Pramoedya Ananta Toer

24 featured booksPramoedya Ananta Toer

Pramoedya Ananta Toer was born in Blora, Java, which was part of the Dutch East Indies at the time, the son of a teacher and a rice trader. After he graduated from school, Japanese forces invaded and occupied Indonesia, and Pramoedya worked as a typist for a Japanese newspaper in Jakarta. When World War II ended, Pramoedya joined the war for Indonesian independence, and while he was stationed in Jakarta he began writing fiction as well as propaganda for the Nationalist cause. In 1947 he was captured by the Dutch forces and remained in prison until Indonesia achieved independence in 1949, the year the Netherlands recognized Indonesian independence. He wrote his first major novel, The Fugitive, while in prison. After the war, Pramoedya continued to write fiction while living in Indonesia and travelling abroad. In the 1950s, he took a literary history teaching position at Universitas Res Publica. His fiction became increasingly more political and critical of the Indonesian government, and he was ultimately arrested by the Indonesian military and imprisoned for nine months. In 1965 the government of Indonesia fell under a coup and the army took power. Pramoedya, who lead the communist People's Cultural Organisation, was arrested and imprisoned without trial as a political prisoner by the new government. His books were banned, his personal library, including many of his early writings, was burned, and he was forbidden to write in prison. Nevertheless he composed his most famous work, The Buru Quartet, while in the prison camp on the island of Buru, by narrating the novels to his fellow prisoners. Eventually he was able to write them down and get them published abroad. Although they are still banned in Indonesia, The Buru Quartet is considered a classic work of Indonesian fiction. Pramoedya was released from prison in 1979, but remained under house arrest in Jakarta until 1992. He continued to write fiction, biographies, and editorials criticizing the Indonesian government. He died at the age of 81 from complications of diabetes and heart disease.

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OL1637A

Overview

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Display name
Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Personal name
Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Source identifier
OL1637A

Featured books

Representative editions for works actually authored by this person.

Works in catalog

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Bukan Pasar Malam
Representative edition published 2021
Open Work
Arok Dedes
Representative edition published 2007
Open Work
Exile
Representative edition published 2006
Open Work
Bumi Manusia
Representative edition published 2005
Open Work
Menggelinding
Representative edition published 2004
Open Work
Cerita dari Blora
Representative edition published 2004
Open Work
Gadis Pantai
Representative edition published 2003
Open Work
Rumah Kaca
Representative edition published 2003
Open Work
Sang pemula dan karya-karya non-fiksi (jurnalistik), fiksi (cerpen/novel) R.M. Tirto Adhi Soerjo
Representative edition published 2003
Open Work
Cerita dari Jakarta
Representative edition published 2002
Open Work
Jejak Langkah
Representative edition published 2002
Open Work
Perburuan
Representative edition published 2002
Open Work
The king, the witch, and the priest
Representative edition published 2001
Open Work
Korupsi
Representative edition published 2001
Open Work
Percikan Revolusi Subuh
Representative edition published 2001
Open Work
Mangir
Representative edition published 2000
Open Work
Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu
Representative edition published 2000
Open Work
Keluarga Gerilja
Representative edition published 1995
Open Work
Mereka jang dilumpuhkan
Representative edition published 1995
Open Work
Arus balik
Representative edition published 1995
Open Work
Anak Semua Bangsa
Representative edition published 1993
Open Work
Awakenings
Representative edition published 1991
Open Work
A heap of ashes
Representative edition published 1975
Open Work
Independence Day and Other Stories
Representative edition published 2020
Open Work