Publisher's Synopsis
Max Havelaar: Or The Coffee Auctions Of The Dutch Trading Company is a novel written by Multatuli in 1868. The book is a scathing critique of the colonial system in the Dutch East Indies, which was then a Dutch colony. The story is told through the eyes of Max Havelaar, a Dutch civil servant who is appointed to the post of assistant resident in the town of Lebak. Havelaar is a man of high ideals who is determined to improve the lives of the local people, who are suffering under the oppressive rule of the Dutch colonial authorities.As he begins his work, Havelaar discovers that the local officials are corrupt and that the Dutch trading company is exploiting the local farmers by forcing them to sell their coffee at low prices. Havelaar tries to expose the corruption and the exploitation, but he is thwarted at every turn by the Dutch authorities. Eventually, he is forced to resign from his post in disgust.The novel is a powerful indictment of colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples. Multatuli uses Havelaar's story to expose the hypocrisy and greed of the Dutch colonial system, and to call for reform. The book is also notable for its use of satire and irony, which are used to devastating effect to expose the corruption and hypocrisy of the Dutch officials.Max Havelaar: Or The Coffee Auctions Of The Dutch Trading Company is considered a classic of Dutch literature, and it has been translated into many languages. It is also regarded as an important work in the history of colonialism and the struggle for independence in the Dutch East Indies.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.