It was a bittersweet pleasure to read and now finish the Buru Quartet.
Raden Mas Minke is now in exile. The House of Glass is told from the person responsible for it - policeman Tuan Pangemann. It is a great counterpart to the earlier trilogy written in Minke's voice. It presents the colonial view.
Pangemann writes of his qualifications and demonstrates an excellent understanding of his culture. Unfortunately, he does not realize who he is and the damage his reports are responsible for. Even as he admires and respects Minke, he is responsible for undermining the development of his own people and Indonesia to the benefit of all others, the Europeans and Chinese.
Such people are responsible for the power of Europeans and Chinese even today. Very little of the history and culture is available to its people and visitors.
Raden Mas Minke is now in exile. The House of Glass is told from the person responsible for it - policeman Tuan Pangemann. It is a great counterpart to the earlier trilogy written in Minke's voice. It presents the colonial view.
Pangemann writes of his qualifications and demonstrates an excellent understanding of his culture. Unfortunately, he does not realize who he is and the damage his reports are responsible for. Even as he admires and respects Minke, he is responsible for undermining the development of his own people and Indonesia to the benefit of all others, the Europeans and Chinese.
Such people are responsible for the power of Europeans and Chinese even today. Very little of the history and culture is available to its people and visitors.
