1860
Max Havelaar
Multatuli · 1820–1887 · Netherlands
Originally Max Havelaar (Dutch)
Why it matters
A Dutch colonial administrator's exposé of the exploitation of Javanese coffee farmers, framed by a deliberately chaotic, satirical narrator. The novel credited with shifting Dutch public opinion against colonial abuses.
At a glance
satirecolonial & postcolonialpolitical novel
Difficulty 6/10medium pace320 pagesDeliberately chaotic, interrupting narrator scrambles the documentary material.
Deep dive
Why a self-satisfied Amsterdam coffee-broker keeps hijacking a story about colonial injustice in Java, and what happens when the real author finally shoves him out of the way.
Where to go next
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