Multatuli
Multatuli, the pseudonym of Eduard Douwes Dekker, was a prominent Dutch writer and colonial administrator born on March 2, 1820, in Amsterdam. He moved to Java in 1838 and served as an official resident in Bantam by 1857. His experiences in the Dutch East Indies led him to witness and critique the injustices of colonial rule, prompting him to speak out against systemic abuses, which resulted in friction with his fellow administrators. Following his return to the Netherlands, he published a series of impactful writings, including the renowned novel *Max Havelaar* in 1860, which highlighted the exploitation of native labor under Dutch colonialism. Multatuli's literary contributions also included satirical works, such as *Minnebrieven*, and he compiled his thoughts in a collection titled *Ideën*, published between 1862 and 1877. He passed away on February 19, 1887, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate in discussions about colonialism and social reform. His works are recognized for their critical examination of power dynamics and social injustices, making him a significant figure in Dutch literature and history.
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Multatuli
Dutch novelist, journalist, and diplomat
- Born: March 2, 1820
- Birthplace: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Died: February 19, 1887
- Place of death: Nieder-Ingelheim, Germany
Biography
Eduard Douwes Dekker, who used the pseudonym Multatuli (muhl-tuh-TEW-lee), was for many years a colonial administrator in the Dutch East Indies, principally in Java. Born in Amsterdam on March 2, 1820, he went to Java in 1838, and by 1857 he was the official resident at Bantam. In 1846 he married Everdine van Wijnbergen. After her death he married, in 1875, Mimi Hamminck Schepel, who as his widow and literary executor published her husband’s collected works in 1892. {$S[A]Douwes Dekker, Eduard;Multatuli}{$S[A]Dekker, Eduard Douwes;Multatuli}
During his years as a colonial administrator in the Dutch East Indies Dekker observed incidents and situations he regarded as scandalous. Because he spoke out against the abuses, he alienated many of his fellow administrators. It is not clear whether he was dismissed or forced to resign from his post, but after his return to Holland he published details of the situation in the Dutch East Indies in a series of articles in periodicals and a number of pamphlets. He also wrote a novel, Max Havelaar, in which he depicted the abuses of the Dutch colonial system, especially the abuse of free labor by the administrators. The novel was published under the pseudonym Multatuli in 1860. Minnebrieven, ostensibly a collection of love letters, was a satire on the abuses of the colonial system. Vorstenschool (the school for princes), a drama based on the same need for reforms, had limited contemporary success on the stage. During the years from 1862 to 1877 Dekker assembled his miscellaneous works and published them as a series of volumes entitled Ideën, translated into English in 1904. Dekker died at Nieder-Ingelheim on February 19, 1887.
Bibliography
Feenberg, Anne-Marie. “Max Havelaar: An Anti-imperialist Novel.” Modern Language Notes 112, no. 5 (1997): 817-836.
Glissenaar, Frans. D. D.: Het Leven van E. F. E. Douwes Dekker. Hilversum, the Netherlands: Verloren, 1999.
King, Peter. Gezelle and Multatuli: A Question of Literature and Social History. Hull, England: University of Hull, 1978.
King, Peter. Multatuli. New York: Twayne, 1972.
King, Peter. Multatuli’s “Max Havelaar,” Fact and Fiction. Hull, England: University of Hull, 1987.
Lawrence, D. H. Introduction to Max Havelaar, by Multatuli. 1927. Reprint. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1982.
Van den Berg, H. “Multatuli and Romantic Indecision.” Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies 5, no. 2 (Fall, 1984): 36-47.