Twilight in Jakarta: Novel

The first Indonesian novel ever to be published in English, Twilight in Jakarta offers a grim cast of characters: corrupt politicians, impotent intellectuals, reckless journalists, manipulative Lefties, and impetuous Moslems, to name a few. Although the novel condemns political practices that were prevalent in 1950s Indonesia, readers will find that it still resonates today, when once again Indonesia adopts a multi-party system with political parties that compete and collaborate at the same time.

• Mochtar Lubis, Author

  Mochtar Lubis co-founded the Indonesia Raya newspaper, where his strong criticism towards the government led to numerous imprisonments. In 1958 Lubis shared the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication with Robert Dick. Lubis founded and co-founded numerous magazines and foundations, including the Obor Indonesia Foundation in 1970, the Horison magazine, and the Indonesian Green Foundation. Lubis is known as an honest, no-nonsense reporter, and he is the author of six novels and two short story collections.

• Claire Holt, Translator