On Pramoedya Ananta Toer

For the larger part of his writing career, Indonesian author Pramoedya Ananta Toer, (1925–2006) was considered by literary critics, both Indonesian and foreign, to be one of the most—if not the most—important writer this country has produced. His fame and the significant role he played in the development of modern Indonesian literature may be traced to several factors: the length of his writing career; the large body of work he produced; and the socially illuminating quality of many of his best works. Yet another factor that served to enhance the popular appeal of this author was his imprisonment as a political prisoner, first by the Dutch colonial army during the Indonesian revolution (1947-1949); then, for a briefer time, under Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno (1960-61); and lastly, for more than fourteen years under the Soeharto regime (1965-1979).