Pram vs. Colonialism—Two Indonesian Novels

Come read and discuss two novels by Indonesia’s greatest writer with a literary expert! Born 100 years ago, Pramoedya Ananta Toer was both an advocate for the poor and a critic of power. His writing was so subversive that governments put him in prison and banned his novels for decades. We’ll start with The Fugitive (1950), set during Japan’s occupation of Indonesia, a time when friendships are fraught with political tension and trusting the wrong person can lead to execution. Next, we’ll discuss The Girl from the Coast (1962), about a poor girl from a fishing village forced to marry a powerful and privileged man in the city. We’ll read both books in English; find them at your local bookstore or online.