Fugitive dreams; an anthology of Dutch colonial literature
E.M. Beekman (ed.)

An anthology of Dutch colonial literature.

An excellent selection of writings by eight authors who spanned the Dutch presence in India from 1600 to World War II. Edited, translated and with notations by Professor E. M. Beekman. Writers featured include:

• William Bontekoe (1587-?), an intrepid seafarer, describes vividly how the ship he captained blew up and how the survivors endured their ghastly ordeal.
• Francois Valentijn (1666-1727), compiled one of the first “compendiums” on the archipelago, one that is by turns entertaining, informative and bloodthirsty.
• Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn (1809-1864) was an adventurous romantic who first surveyed mant of Java’s volcanoes.
• Hermann Neubronner van der Tuuk (1824-1894) employed for 25 years with the Bible Society despite vocally anti-Christian views, was a pioneer in the study of Indonesian languages.
• Bas Veth (1860-1922) used satire to satisfying effect, and hit the nail on the head judging from bitter denunciations of his work by many of is contemporaries.
• Alexander Cohen (1864-1963) was a soldier in the colonial army who wrote stoically about the appalling punishment he suffered for minor offenses.
• Kartini (1879-1904) this daughter of a Javanese aristocrat is viewed today by Indonesians as a patriotic pioneer of women’s rights.
• Willem Walraven (1887-1943) was a journalist and represents Holland’s deepening confusion about its role as a colonizing power..