Below are the 34 reviews by amazon.com readers for THIS EARTH OF MANKIND
great story, many points to discuss, April 10, 2007
By Naomi Brewster "prince rupert's drop" (Melbourne, Australia)
I enjoyed Minke's story. Pram is an excellent writer. His prose invokes visual representation as you read through the pages and the pages seem to turn themselves. The book is set in a time and place of which I know little yet I felt, while reading this book, that I could see it and imagine it. I haven't yet gone on to read the rest of the books in the series, so don't know how the characters develop later. Annelies' character gives me much grist for the mill with her passive inability to cope with life or meet events as an equal with her mother and husband and her obsession with what she is not - 'native'. The constant reference in the book to pure, native, half blood is worthy of further analysis. Being from a former English colony (New Zealand) I don't get the impression that this narrative was nearly as prominent there as it seems to have been in Indonesia. I wonder, is this a reflection on the Dutch colonialists or on Indonesia? In all, a good read with much to occupy the reader's attention upon completion. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Sure to be a Classic, March 19, 2007
By Joseph Palen (Eugene, OR United States)
These 4 wonderful books by the late, great Pramoedya, should take their rightful place on the Classic Self with Dickens, Shakespeare, and Dostoevsky. I read the last one, "House of Glass", first and am not sure that is a good way to do it. This one I found even more beautiful. Cheers to the translator; and thanks to him for sacrificing his job for this art.
An upper class brilliant young Javanese scholar, being groomed by the Dutch, and a ravishingly beautiful young daughter of a rich Dutchman and his Javanese concubine fall hopelessly in love. The wicked brother and rightful heir intercedes, with overtones of the oppressed (Javanese) and the oppressor (Holland). What a story! Probably the most romantic and most beautifully written book I have read in years (of course the fact that I read it in central Java may have added even more emotion and meaning). Anyway, I cannot wait to get on to the next of the four.
The foundation of a mega-novel, January 30, 2007
By Fenster (VA, USA)
'This Earth of Mankind' is the first novel in Pram Toer's Buru Quartet, and details the life of a unique Indonesian, Minke, whose awareness of the country and the world he lives in expands due to his education and interaction with a variety of characters, whose masks and motives are slowely revealed (in this and the other novels in the BQ). TEOM opened a whole new world to me. The depiction of the culture clash is especially good, the influence of European - mostly Dutch - and Asian ideas, and how Indonesia was a plaything of colonialism for centuries. And within that are the people, and those PT has peopled his novel with are richly drawn. Thus TEOM is part history lesson, part literature.
PT also has the gift of the epigram: 'pity is the feeling of well-intentioned people who are unable to act'; and 'the life of the soul and the psyche are not mentioned in offical letters'. The loftly pronouncement is often on display too: 'How can human beings be looked upon purely from the point of view of official documents and without considering their essence as human beings?' Only a man who has spent long periods of his life imprisoned could write a sentence as powerful as that - and PT has, and then some. The man has suffered. And the greatest insult is that he was never awarded the Nobel Prize that he so obviously earned.
Great book by a questionable author, September 1, 2006
By Ann E. Sherman (USA) - See all my reviews
This book is great and is an interesting insight into Indonesian culture. However, I have mixed feelings about the author, who to the end of his life was bitter that he had been imprisoned for political purposes (as he should be) but never understood the bitterness of others such as Mochtar Lubis at Pramoedya's hypocrisy.
Pramoedya was a supporter of Sukarno and the communist party in Indonesia (although he didn't officially join the party), and was a strong, outspoken advocate of having other authors banned if they didn't support 'the revolution'. He ridiculed a group that called for free speech, freedom of ideas and basic human rights for all - a group that objected to art and culture being censored for political reasons (the Manifes Kebudayaan). Pramoedya called for those advocating free speech to be 'pushed aside' (perhaps only figuratively - he hopefully didn't want them to be imprisoned, but he certainly wanted them banned).
One member of this group, Mochtar Lubis, spent years in jail for being anti-communist. Pramoedya never spoke a word against the way Lubis was treated. Yet when the next repressive dictator, Suharto (who was anti- rather than pro-communist), threw Promoedya in jail, Mochtar Lubis visited him while he was in exile on Buru Island and helped him to get paper and a typewriter. To the end of his life, Pramoedya was outspoken in condemning how he personally had been treated but never, as far as I've been able to find, said a word against the jailing of Lubis and other anti-communists.
Another aspect that appears inconsistent is that Pramoedya seemed to blame all of Indonesia's problems on foreign ideas and foreign influence, yet his proposed solution was to adopt China's version of communism. Did he think that Marx and Mao were Indonesian? How could an intelligent, reasonable person visit China during Mao's rule and come back thinking that another country should voluntarily condemn itself to a similar system?
You should read his books, since Pramoedya was quite a writer and you'll learn something about Indonesian culture. But I plan to also look for some novels by Mochtar Lubis. Lubis' book Twilight in Djakarta was the first Indonesian novel ever translated into English.
A glimpse into why Indonesia is (still) a mess of a nation, May 26, 2006
By K. Widyani (Australia)
I admire this book very much and I'm not at all surprised that it was subjected to a ban and Pramoedya prosecuted as a result. Without hesitation (or even, if I may say, guilt to his own "ancestors") Pramoedya bared in the open those very aspects of Indonesian people that have allowed colonialists to oppress them for hundreds of years. The book is as relevant today as when it was first written about 40 years ago as Indonesia clearly has not rid itself of colonialism, albeit a home-grown one. This book has in its own unique way helped me see why my birth country, Indonesia, is still a third-world country, despite the the vast natural resources that she owns
Wonderful, May 15, 2006
By Margaret (Pearland, Texas United States)\
This wonderful book works on every level. It is the story of Minke, an adolescent in Java in 1898. He is a talented young man: He studies, he writes articles, he earns money by getting commissions for fine furniture. This is really a story about class structure, racism, arrogance, and colonialism, built around a sad little love story between Minke and Annelies, the daughter of a formidable native "concubine," who was herself sold into concubinage and who seeks a better fate for her children. I understand that this book was originally created orally, told in chapters in the prison where the author was incarcerated for political reasons. I recommend this book without hesitation! I am so happy and thrilled to have found this author and to have begun reading him!
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Important Subject, Fine Writing, October 22, 2005
By Francoise Noy "educator, traveler, reader"
This is a good start to understanding how colonialism can affect culture and history.
The narrative is perceptive and well-written. Indonesians, especially the Javanese, will find this book compelling and all can walk away with a better understanding of the history of Southeast Asia.
Pramoedya drew the map!, September 16, 2005
By Bro Chan (Chino Hills, CA, USA)
Plunged in economic, religious, social, and racial turmoil, the children of the "Jewel of the Pacific" nation today are left with a deep silent cry for the fate of their beloved land. They are stunned by the entire mumble-jumble political storm happening around them. They know their ancestors did something right by the fact of their independence from colonialism, but something is missing...
Being victim of a corrupt system from the past few decades by their own government blinds and robs them from the connection with the past when their grandfathers and grandfather's fathers fought shoulder to shoulder to free the nation from the oppression of colonialist dogs that robbed, raped, exploited, and enslaved the people.
Mr. Toer through his vivid depiction and powerful character projection from the missing era reconnects the children of Indonesia today with their own buried past to rekindle the fire of genuine nationalism. He drew the map to let them find their root and solidarity as a nation. Through drawing a picture of the past, Mr. Toer provides a guide for the nation's future. The tetralogy is a must-read for today's Indonesian generation while the social drama presented in his writing also provides a peek for all humanity to see its own strength, pitfalls, and potential for greatness. No readers will be left behind.
I am a child of that nation that selfishly used to be called Dutch East Indies and from the depth of my heart I would like to thank Mr. Toer to endure such barbarism in his life in order to pass on the knowledge that otherwise will be buried by hypocrisy and ignorance. Merdeka!
An amazng literary accomplishment, August 31, 2005
By A. Steagall "reader" (US) - See all my reviews
I loved the first three of this series. The fourth book is good, but a bit slower. I could not put these down. The first novel starts out a bit slow (first forty pages) and then takes off with such rich characters and narrative that I was transported. I learned a great deal about the period, colonialism from a native perspecive and the Indonesian history. In my mind he's one of the greats.
Suspense and History, February 18, 2005
By Antenna Twentythree (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews
This is the first of four books that are written from Pramoedya Ananta Toer's imprisonment - he spent his years in prison telling this story to his fellow prisoners, and wrote it all down when he got out.
Just imagine being imprisoned on a cruel island with the ironic name of Buru (bird). Then imagine Mr. Toer telling you and other prisoners a long story about a young man's political awakening, Indonesia's colonial history - years, days, places, players - and a whole host of other fascinating characters. Complete with suspense and romance, this the first of four long books that contain the whole story of Minke. In each cliffhanger, you can sense where Mr. Toer had to stop telling his story, leaving his captive audience hanging on for the next day...
An incredible series of novels, January 20, 2005
By Rachel Rinaldo (Chicago, IL)
Pramoedya is one of the great humanist authors. This Earth of Mankind should be read with the other three books of the Buru quartet, though the first two are definitely the stand-outs. He gives such an incredible sense of the sweep of early 20th century Indonesian history, filling his work with historical detail, yet also managing to create memorable characters. To my mind, Pramoedya has exceptional and highly original female characters, though they are more visible in the second and third volumes. He has deep sympathy for marginalized groups, including the Chinese and Eurasians, who are rarely portrayed in other Indonesian literature (except as villains). Anyone interested in the history of Asian anti-colonialism in general, or Indonesia in particular, should read this quartet
what about the women?, April 8, 2004
By A Customer
I started reading the Buru Quartet a little while ago and just finished reading the second book, which is by far superior to the first one. But, in a way, This Earth of Mankind sets the stage of things to come. It gives a glance into the culture and the understanding of classes.
However, I was more than disappointed by the women in this book. Minke's mother-in-law is described as this strong person who built the business, always says the right things and is incredibly self-educated. However, why did Annelies not inherit any of that? Or get taught any of it? Annelies can't stand up for herself even if her life depends on it. Why is she such a soft and pityful woman? How could her mother's ideals NOT be installed in her? And the son is incredible rude. Why doesn't she, with all her cunning, have any control over her children? I found this bothersome.
So, despite it, I will say that it was worth reading it, and I will finish reading the whole series, I'm sure, because the second book already has proven it's worth
Kirkus review--above, is unreasonable. This is a great book, November 22, 2002
By Kusmulx "kusmulx" (Singapore)
The Kirtus review wrote that this novel is unsatisfactory in comparison to Toer's first US publication, which is "The Fugitive". Then the review gives the idea that the novel, unlike the universal theme in "The fugitive", is too obvious a polemic. I disagrees with the Reviewer to place the polemic subject as a disadvantage. The novel is supposed to make an arguement in controvertial issues especially on subject such as colonialism, which is in the very heart of Indonesia after 300 years or more of Dutch occupation. The first novel captured the social tention in this society by telling love story between a native and an Indo-girl. Toer is a master in balancing the objective of telling a good story while at the same time critizising social issues. When finished with this novel, read 2nd, 3rd and 4th novel and I will guaranteed that your life will be richer. You'll see the beauty as well as the dark sides of humankind.
A deep glance on Indonesian society, October 23, 2002
By "tatireis" (Brooklyn, New York USA)
If to understand a country or culture is understand its people, after reading this book you will understand the traditions and struggles of indonesian society. i found it fun, beautifully written, poetic, sensitive and mind opening. I recommend to anyone interest in learning not only about indonesia but about mankind and its contradictions.
A must read for every Indonesian, June 17, 2002
By A Customer
I'm from the same village as Mr. Toer, in fact, I was born only a mile away from his family home in Blora. My uncle went to school with him, my mom went to school with his sister and I went to school with his nephew. Since his exile, his family disowned him and I only heard bad things about him. But being in the US, I'm able to get access to the ban books in Indonesia and have been rewarded from reading his books. This book is a start of an "anti-christ" series that exposes our bad sides honestly. This, and the following books, clearly narrates the dutch rule in the late 1800 and early 1900 that is used in the exact same manner by Suharto during his rule (i.e. oppression). It also brings out our (esp. Javanese) bad character, submissiveness, in a painful but awakening way. So, for my fellow Indonesians, read this book as an instrospect! You will be stressed out for awhile but enlightment is on its way.
Difficult, but rewarding, April 12, 2002
By Pat Bracewell (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
The most stunning thing about this novel is the fact that Toer composed it, orally, while in prison. That accomplishment alone puts him in a league way above any to which most modern writers even pretend to aspire. However, if you're looking for a book that is an easy read, this isn't it.
Originally composed in Indonesian, This Earth of Mankind follows a year in the life of a young Javanese student in 1898. At eighteen Minke is a true tabula rasa - guileless, impressionable, awed by the Dutch academic institution in which he finds himself. He is a child with his feet in two distinct worlds, the world of Dutch colonialism, and the world of his native culture, Java. But even as his intellect and education appear to open doors of opportunity for him, he discovers that the fact of his birth will restrict and oppress him. For Minke is not European, nor even Indo (half European, half native), but merely a native Javanese. Like other native peoples subjugated by European colonials, the Indonesians suffered humiliating restrictions in every arena: legal, political, financial, educational and social.
Although the story line is reminiscent of other classic works of drama and fiction, Toer does not invest his characters with any emotional energy. The star crossed romance of Minke and Amelie, reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, lacks the intensity that makes us weep for Shakespeare's lovers. Minke's stunned recognition of the cruelty of white man's justice is bland if one compares it to the sharp, satiric edge of Twain's Huckleberry Finn. Toer seems to be less interested in creating memorable characters than in revealing the character and history of the Indonesian people. If read with that in mind, the book is fascinating and rewarding.
Toer's purpose, in the end, is political. For him, art and politics are two strands of the same rope. But his political agenda comes at a price. The story, as literature, suffers. Still, it does instruct.....especially someone as woefully ignorant about Indonesian history as myself.
Amazing window on the story of Java, August 22, 2001
By Lawrence M. Yoder "lelono" (Harrisonburg, VA United States)
I am impressed by this English translation of BUMI MANUSIA, but the original is still more rich and colorful. I lived for a decade 30 miles from Pramoedya's home town of Blora, presumably the B____ from which Minke comes. All of Pram's books were banned then and Pram himself was in the midst of his imprisonment on Buru, but I had discovered what an amazing opening they provided to the world of turn-of-the-century colonial Java. I am a student of Javanese history and culture, but Pram's works, beginning for me with TJERITA DARI BLORA (Stories from Blora), provided a florid vision to the realities of that world for people of every caste of the colonial social structure. Every time I went into a used book shop I searched for his works. THIS EARTH OF MANKIND is in my mind an unparalleled gift to Indonesia and the world, providing innumerable images of the range of human experience in colonial Java. The Kirkus reviewer needs to know that "nyai" is not a person's name but an appelation applied to unofficial "rightless" wives of European men who were part of the colonial system. There were many of them in every town. Read CHILD OF ALL NATIONS to learn how this particular woman became Ndoro Mellema's nyai. Pram's story opens the window for us to see a whole range of human experience heretofore hidden from public view even from present-day Indonesians who were denied access to Pram's works until recent years. The subsequent novels in the quartet carry on the stunning and poignant revelations. Grievously last month when I out of habit looked again for Pram's works in bookstores in Indonesia they had again disappeared from the shelves of major stores
Splendid!, August 6, 2001
By A Customer
Toer is genius! It was ashamed this book was banned before. Indonesian people should read this book. It will teach them about dignity and proud as a nation. Something that has vanished long time ago.
This book is beautiful. It shows the beauty of Indonesia literature.
Tragedy is a good teacher, April 10, 2001
By Andika Triwidada "andika@hotmail.com" (Bandung, Indonesia)
I weep after reading the original version, Bumi Manusia. I hope English translation can keep its soul-touching content. I believe that everyone can make mistakes. And Pramudya tells us very human people and very, very human mistakes. It reminds me how cruel people can be, and that we must remember that history is very single-sided, depends on who write it. This book is highly recommended, it pictures perfectly Indonesian (especially Javanese) culture. Reading it without the rest of the quad is a mistake, for you will miss many more beautiful tragedies.
A good way to understand history, March 8, 2001
By "asteriani" (Detroit, MI United States) - See all my reviews
As an Indonesian, this is one of the best book to understand and learn about our colonial history, and better still learn it from the more personal level. Also as an Indoneisan (and from Java to boot), I know that the writer is faithful to the feelings and atmosphere of the 'native' people of the time. I enjoyed so much reading this book.
This Book is Not Worth the Paper it is Printed On, February 25, 2001
By Janis A. Varo (Seattle, WA. USA)
I cannot understand why everyone gave this book 5 stars except for the fact it is politically unkind not to (the author is, after all, under house arrest for his political activities and this book is banned in his own country of Indonesia). However, this is some of the worst writting I have ever read. He makes grand, over the top statements about how his characters feel about each other with nothing to back it up except his pronouncements that he hits you over the head with every so often (just in case you had regained consciousness and had forgotten). He waxes poetically about his mother-in-law and how smart and well educated she is and yet spends the end of the book melodramtically wringing his hands when she loses everything because she moronically thought as a concubine she could keep everything after the death of her master (if she understands the political situation of the day as well as he claims, why did she not have a plan in the event of his death?) I can't wait to get rid of my copy of this book, but then that means some poor sap will be stuck reading it.
One of the great political novels of this century, October 13, 2000
By Devin Rambo (Ventura, CA United States)
The Kirkus review printed above damns Toer's novel with faint praise when it states that the book is "too obvious a polemic." Too obvious for whom? I wonder if the reviewer would take the same view of any other number of political novels which were used by their authors as a barely disguised fictional framework to attack flawed or unjust cultural values. Is The Grapes of Wrath too obvious a polemic? Of course not, and neither is This Earth of Mankind. Toer makes no effort to disguise the nature of his critique of the social and political values of colonial Indonesian society. Toer's narrative is brilliant; the characters are vivid and developed so well that we have no trouble identifying with them personally, and yet at the same time they are patently obvious symbols of the different racial and social strata in the world of which the novel is set. Toer has been accused of being overly melodramatic in this novel, and while I think that is a reasonable criticism, I have to disagree. The antagonists here are hissable characters, but Toer plays fair with them. They have a clear rationale for what they do and the justification for their actions may seem reasonable and even honorable to them even if we view it as an outrage. Toer balances this all with a tone that never comes across as angry, although given the hardships he himself has endured would make it perfectly understandable if the novel had been tinged with more brimstone. But the narrative does give one the sense of social and political displacement felt by Minke, the book's narrator, and by the family he meets in whose fate he becomes entangled. In This Earth of Mankind, Toer exposes the evils of a society based on and obsessed with castes of race and money, and in doing so has produced one of the essential political novels of the 20th Century.
Compelling. Thoughtful., August 25, 2000
By "alenchik" (NYC)
Once, when writing about _This Earth of Mankind_ I quoted Bertolt Brecht:"...But the compassion of the oppressed for the oppressed is indispensable. It is the world's one hope." I believe one of the central ideas of this novel is encapsulated quite well in these lines. Pramoedya, whose own voice of a political prisoner and persona non grata had been silenced for years, serves as a loudspeaker of sorts through which the voice of Nyai Ontosoroh is delivered to a large audience. Nyai, an Indonesian Native and a Dutchman's concubine, by law is denied of all political, financial, and legal freedoms. Yet her voice and her very presence are resolutely powerful despite many obstacles.
Exaggerated pathos aside, Pramoedya narrates a compelling story, full of revelations into the nature of Indonesian societal structure, national history, and into the nature of all humankind.
A couple of years ago I had the privelege of attending a conference where Pramoedya's life and works were discussed and where he was in attendance. Being in his presence, along with dozens of others in the auditorium, was an incredible experience. I'm grateful to Pramoedya Ananta Toer for his existence, his strength, and his words. His work is an important part of recorded human experience, and I recommend it highly.
*sigh*, May 12, 2000
By Katelyn (Montana, USA)
Wow! This book is excellent, if I had to discribe it in one word it would be --POETIC-- Every sentence in this book has some sort of deep value, whether historical, poetical, or impressional. I have learned alot from this novel about the Javanese people and the Dutch colonial times in Indonesia. I am currently reading the rest of the quartet and it is just as fabulous as the first volume
Indonesian Gone With the Wind, February 26, 2000
By sarah jane bailiff (Texas)
A beautiful and fun read. This book offers an uncanny combination of escapism and romance with social, historical and cultural commentary. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. It makes you think and feel...in a very effortless way.
It was fun being transported to Indonesia at the turn of the last century. I haven't read a book like this in a long time. Try it. You won't regret it. It has something for everyone.
A Love Story Introduction to Indonesian Nationalism, June 1, 1998
By A Customer
The history of South East Asia is often misunderstood and misrepresented. By itself, this book stands as a classic love story of a timeless beauty. As an historical passage, this book brings home an understanding of the seeds of Indonesian nationalism. Anyone wishing to learn more about South East Asian history around the period of colonial rule and/or the struggles of a people against a cycle of abuse will find this story compelling, especially given the circumstances under which it was written. I loved the book from both the love story and historical perspectives.
Literature collectable, May 8, 1998
By A Customer
This book tells a very good story. It has meaning, and reason. If you liked 'Cronicles of a death fortold'. This is a book I'm not willing to let go of. No one writes stories like Toer does. I liked his stories som much, I linked his site to my web page. This a story worth the time to read. This is the only book in the world I recomend anyone to read. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
A magnificent book that touched my soul!, December 9, 1997
By A Customer
I am a black, 5th generation Canadian and have often felt non-patriotic not knowing where I really come from. After reading this book, I feel so fortunate being born in Canada. The book touched my heart and my soul as well as teaching me about history and politics. After reading the book, I searched for everything that I could find by and about the author. A must read, extraordinary piece of art.
Just the beginning of a long journey, November 25, 1997
By A Customer
This is indeed a book about mankind; our eyes and mind are brought face to face with the humiliation and the joy of the book's main character, a son of a nobel Javanese who is struggling to find an identity, despite his naivete of European superiority (the story took place at the closing of the 19th century, when colonialization was in place). The word, 'modern,' was not yet in the dictionary, and Pramoedya expands to give us an unforgettable experience of seeing science unravel its power in front of mankind, for better or for worse, through the eyes of his main character. We are forced to question ourselves of our own identity, our own deeds, our own laws that govern our land, our own suffering, and our own opression on our fellow mankind. Finally, we are once again faced with the sour reality of mankind when Pramoedya twists the story toward an unexpected and sad but brave ending.
I am an Indonesian who had been educated by text books written and mandated by the Indonesian government, the new ruler on the East Indies, the land that Pramoedya's epic story took place. I am amazed, marveled, transcended by the way Pramoedya revealed to me the secret of our culture, the reasons why my ancestors submitted to colonialization for more than three centuries. Pramoedya has opened the eyes of my soul to see the things surrounding my culture and my country, its history and its effort to come to terms with colonialization more closely, more vigilantly.
Pramoedya's writing is truly unique, and his insight toward mankind, cultural differences, and whatever else that has brought us near the end of this century is completely powerful. Now, almost exactly 100 years later than when the story took place, many of the wisdom and sorrow Pramoedya writes about still hold place. Truly.
The first of the Buru Quartet books, I recommend this book to any man and woman, of any nation and culture.
A Power of Beauty, October 4, 1997
By odin114641@aol.com (Mt. Dora, Florida)
Sometimes, novels have a way of captivating their readers. It is a magic, a talent that cannot be taught to writers. Toer has this magic in his prose, and this novel will cast a spell on you. The beauty of this novel can only be compared with the beauty of Annelies. This is one of the most emotional books I've ever read, and scrape away all its emotions, the objectivity of Toer's subjects remains in tact and just as beautiful. Read this book. It is better than the most epic of motion pictures.
For lovers of rich fiction a wonderful adventure. Superb!, September 12, 1997
By nickoli@rmi.net (Colorado)
This brilliant novel weaves history, romance, a colorful story line, and rich characters. All the more precious for having so much of Toer's work lost to political oppresion
An original voice and a powerful novel., April 19, 1997
By A Customer
For those who feel that one of the functions of a novel is to transport the reader, either to a different time, place or point of view this novel will rank very high. I find myself comparing it most often to the first of the Mafouz Cairo trilogy, "Palace Walk." In both books I found myself in a cultural and historical context so different from what I've experienced (or read about) that I was disconcerted -- but in the best way. A very powerful novel by a writer whose life is equal in tragedy and adversity as any of his characters.
***** THE Indonesian novel--, September 7, 1996
By A Customer
This is THE Indonesian novel, by that country's most originalwriter. Perfect for courses in comparative or post-colonialliterature, "This Earth" is accessible enough for the casual reader who just wants to try something truly different. For reviews and further background, see: The Nation, 2/3/92; The New Yorker, 5/27/96; New York Times Book Review, 6/9/96; Time, 7/22/96; and The Washington Post, 8/11/96.
A poignant, unforgettable masterpiece, cinematic in scope., July 27, 1996
By A Customer
On one level, the book captures a moment in history - the legacy of the Dutch colonization of Indonesia. It is also a love story, a romance ripped apart by that very moment of history. The hero, Minke, falls in love with the daughter of a Dutch settler and his Indonesian concubine. The results are ultimately tragic. But along the way, the author offers the reader a glimpse into a world peopled by unforgettable characters -- rich, complex, not at all stereotypical. Using a first-person narrative that is in turn both deeply personal and strangely detached, the author allows the reader to similarly immerse himself or herself in the story, and yet stand back and observe the unfolding of the drama as a curious bystander.. a bystander who is ultimately ensnared by the characters and their plight -- and consquently tied to the book forever. "This Earth of Mankind" reminds one of a David Lean film, such as "Lawrence of Arabia" -- at once grand and panoramic, and yet at the same time warm and intimate