EPISODE 27: Multatuli, "Max Havelaar" (1860), Part Three

Chapters 16-17: 0:00—Back in Lebak. 3:41—Drystubble objects, punishes & reasons. 12:52—Lazy, sick & pedantic. 13:50—Tone & style. 15:48—The tale of Saijah & Adinda. 25:10—The larger picture. 27:10—What should a writer do? 30:56—Art & politics. 36:18—End notes. 39:56—Interlude.

Chapters 18-20: 40:32—Max & the Adipati. 44:07—Drystubble’s pleasant outing. 51:43—The Resident arrives. 53:30—The former Assistant Resident. 54:57—Java Man. 56:23—Zigzag. 57:22—Belief system. 1:02:27—Multatuli takes up the pen. 1:08:52—Personal grievance & cultural misunderstanding. 1:11:07—Writing, publishing, editing. 1:15:43—Reception. 1:17:18—Dekker & colonialism. 1:18:36—Omissions & distortions. 1:11:57—And yet.

Text: Multatuli, Max Havelaar. Translated by Ina Rilke and David McKay, New York Review Books, 1999).

Interludes: Sundanese Water Music, Unknown Artist, Folkway Records, Internet Archive. 

Illustration: Multatuli (Eduard Douwes Dekker), by César Mitkiewicz, 1864, Wikipedia.

Click here for transcript Contact: jimjneilson@gmail.co

Thanks to Professor David Gilmartin and the students of History 519: Modern European Imperialism, NCSU Spring 2024.