Portal:Indonesia/Selected articles2/10

Sitti Nurbaya: Kasih Tak Sampai is an Indonesian novel by Marah Rusli that was published by Balai Pustaka in 1922. It follows two star-crossed teenage lovers from Padang, the titular Sitti Nurbaya and her childhood friend Samsulbahri (pictured), who must struggle against the rich miser Datuk Meringgih. Influenced by the cultures of the west Sumatran Minangkabau and the Dutch colonials, the novel is generally considered one of the most important works of Indonesian literature, inspiring numerous other Indonesian writers. It is taught as a classic of Indonesian literature; this has led to it being "read more often in brief synopsis than as an original text by generation after generation of Indonesian high school students". Described as "a monument to the struggle of forward-thinking youth", it features themes of colonialism, forced marriage, and modernity. It has been adapted as a soap opera twice. (Read more...)