M.C. Ricklefs

The 18th century was a turbulent period in Javanese history, when local kingdoms, Dutch traders and a mysterious Turk became embroiled in a series of bloody conflicts.

Merle Ricklefs seeks clues for the future of the troubled archipelago nation in its distant past.

Revolutions and changes of dynasty seem to have happened with the regularity of clockwork on the island of Java. M.C. Ricklefs investigates.

For the past 600 years the island of Java has been the scene for the encounter of the two major cultural and religious traditions of the world.

by Milton Osborne