In "Max Havelaar, of de koffij-veilingen der Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij," Multatuli provides a scathing critique of colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples in the Dutch East Indies. The novel follows the story of Max Havelaar, an assistant-resident in a Javanese district, as he witnesses the corruption and cruelty of the colonial administration.

Multatuli's writing is powerful and provocative, exposing the injustices and hypocrisy of Dutch colonial rule. Through the character of Max Havelaar, the author challenges readers to confront the moral consequences of their actions and complicity in systems of injustice.

The novel is a compelling work of social commentary that continues to resonate today, shedding light on the enduring legacy of colonialism and the ongoing struggles for justice and equality. Multatuli's masterpiece remains a relevant and important read for anyone interested in the history of imperialism and its impact on society.

Book Description:

“Max Havelaar, of de koffij-veilingen der Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij” (1860), geschreven door Multatuli (pseudoniem van Eduard Douwes Dekker), is een aanklacht tegen de behandeling van de plaatselijke bevolking in Indonesie, destijds een Nederlandse kolonie, door Nederlandse en Nederlands-Indische bestuurders. Het is een van de belangrijkste werken uit de Nederlandse literatuur. [Anna Simon]

Max Havelaar: Or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company (Dutch: Max Havelaar, of de koffij-veilingen der Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij) is a culturally and socially significant 1860 novel by Multatuli (the pen name of Eduard Douwes Dekker) which was to play a key role in shaping and modifying Dutch colonial policy in the Dutch East Indies in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. In the novel, the protagonist, Max Havelaar, tries to battle against a corrupt government system in Java, which was a Dutch colony at the time. [en.Wikipedia.org] (recorded in Dutch)