Max Lane Indonesia Southeast Asia and International Affairs

The release date by VERSO books for UNFINISHED NATION: Indonesia before and after Suharto is May 5, 2008. It can be ordered via Amazon.com and perhaps other website mail order sites.

To go straight to UNIFINISHED NATION on Amazon.com click here.

Theatre Performance
“Women seize the night”
Jakarta – Bandung -Jogjakarta - Surabaya

http://www.monolog3perempuan.multiply.com

Performers:
Three actors, experienced in film and on stage, will appear in this production. They are Rieke Diah Pitaloka, Ria Irawan and Vien Herman. They will perform the roles of a member of parliament, a sex worker and a housewife

Playwrights:
Rieke Diah Pitaloka and Faiza Mardzoeki

Produced by:
Yayasan Pitaloka and Institut Ungu

Producers:
Rieke Diah Pitaloka and Faiza Mardzoeki

Dramatic Coordinator:
Wawan Sofwan

Email: monolog3perempuan@gmail.com
http://www.monolog3perempuan.multiply.com

Contact person: Vivi Widyawati 08158946404

Friday, November 23, 2007
FOUND IN TRANSLATION
(from blog of Deepika Shetty, producer of OFF THE SHELF at Channel News Asia.)

It's one packed literary Saturday in Kuala Lumpur. Just take a look at this post by Sharon, almost feels like a mini-lit fest. I'm tempted to get there myself. Would love to hear everyone, though for this post I want to single out Max Lane who will be launching his book Arok of Java at Silverfish Books.

Max Lane is the translator of Pramoedya Ananta Toer's work. His is a literary journey that started almost by accident:
"It’s a long story with a short beginning. Basically I failed the subject of science in High School and the Headmaster said you have to have an additional subject and the only one that was available for me to take at that time was Bahasa Indonesia. Combined with the fact that I loved watching movies set in the exotic Orient, I started studying Bahasa. And the first opportunity I got, I packed my bags and started traveling. In fact, the first countries I visited were Indonesia and Singapore way back in 1969. Then I just got more and more involved in Indonesia and I haven’t quite been able to break that connection which started with learning a language and I don’t want to break that connection either."

A MIRROR NO LESS
New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur, December 6, 2007

Indonesian author Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s works reflect his country’s strengths and weaknesses. JAMES HIPKISS gains insight into the man from Max Lane, who translated the literary giant’s book, Arok of Jawa.

ONE of the most famous works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, the book was originally published in Bahasa Indonesia in 1981 with the title Arok Dedes.

The Indonesian literary giant (“Pram” to his friends and colleagues) with a huge volume of work passed away in April last year.

The translator of the book into English, Max Lane, was at the launch of Arok of Java where he gave insights into the book and its author.

Arok of Java is the story of Ken Arok, a legendary figure of Indonesian history who lived in Kediri, Java, 900 years ago during the Hindu era.

Arok is born into a low caste, but coming into contact with Brahmin priests, he acquires education and knowledge, gaining a huge intellectual capacity in the process.

He fights against the injustices of the caste system and is branded an outlaw, Robin Hood-style.

Indonesian author Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s works reflect his country’s strengths and weaknesses. JAMES HIPKISS gains insight into the man from Max Lane, who translated the literary giant’s book, Arok of Jawa.

ONE of the most famous works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer, the book was originally published in Bahasa Indonesia in 1981 with the title Arok Dedes.

The Indonesian literary giant (“Pram” to his friends and colleagues) with a huge volume of work passed away in April last year.

The translator of the book into English, Max Lane, was at the launch of Arok of Java where he gave insights into the book and its author.

Arok of Java is the story of Ken Arok, a legendary figure of Indonesian history who lived in Kediri, Java, 900 years ago during the Hindu era.

Arok is born into a low caste, but coming into contact with Brahmin priests, he acquires education and knowledge, gaining a huge intellectual capacity in the process.

He fights against the injustices of the caste system and is branded an outlaw, Robin Hood-style.