Max Havelaar

Published in 1860, Max Havelaar by Multatuli brought about a phenomenal change to the literature of Netherlands. It is an indictment of the Dutch colonial policies of 1850s that were designed to exploit the native Indonesian masses. With some autobiographical elements, the novel satirizes the social setup of the Dutch people. Although the novel addresses issues of a bygone era, it is still hailed widely for its literary styles and expression of thought.