INDONESIA: LAND OF CHALLENGE

by Marguerite Harmon Bro ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 6, 1954

A well known juvenile author, Mrs. Bro has written novels for the teen age level, but her background has prepared her equally for this serious and broad study of the island chain that so recently won its independence and took its place as a world nation. In 1950, Mrs. Bro's husband was appointed cultural attache to the United States Embassy in Jakarta, and she went with him. Too, years of her childhood were spent in China as the daughter of a missionary and so her eyes and her heart are open to Asian life in a way that takes full cognizance of a tradition-bound land with a new found sense of freedom and westernized democracy. Orthodox in its main outline, the study takes a chapter by chapter look at the facets of Indonesian life- general outlook, history, the relationship of family to nation, war and the birth of the republic, democracy in the making, schools, religion, agriculture, industry, economics and so forth. But within each section there is the personal touch that lights up the street lamps, the dancing, the color and the interesting customs. It makes a varied backdrop for the more basic issues in President Soekarno's polyglot country and there is both frank and understandable interpretation of Indonesia's tie with Red China (rather than Russia) and her desire for a strong, able Asia. Good.

Pub Date: Oct. 6, 1954

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1954

Categories: NONFICTION