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An Empire of the East
An Empire of the East: Travels in Indonesia | Norman Lewis
1 post | 1 read | 2 to read
From Sumatra to East Timor and beyond, An Empire of the East is a fascinating look at a rapidly changing island nation In An Empire of the East, renowned travel essayist Norman Lewis takes readers to Indonesia, where some thirteen thousand islands in the South Pacific are each colored with their own unique cultures and histories. With more than three hundred ethnic groups speaking two hundred fifty languages, the warmth and generosity of the island people is matched only by the countrys complicated political and social landscape. Lewiss account tells of a country whose remarkable culturesas well as its flora and faunaare increasingly shaped by the waves of modernity and global tourism.
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rockpools
rockpools
An Empire of the East: Travels in Indonesia | Norman Lewis
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1991: Norman Lewis was 83 when he started travelling around Indonesia, spending time in Sumatra, East Timor (pre-independence) and Irian Jaya, travelling first with his adult son and daughter and then alone. This is a part of the world I knew nothing about, and the author covers a lot of ground - history, environment, politics, ‘travel‘, and what I guess could be described as an anthropological interest.

I went in with low expectations,but really

rockpools enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book. Lewis has a journalistic style and a keen interest in what‘s going on in the region, and plays on his ‘just curious tourist‘ role to access places. He also describes his own experiences (food was a problem!) In the final part of the book he spends time staying with the indigenous tribespeople of Irian Jaya. This was more uncomfortable- partly due to terminology (constant references to primitive societies and the 3y
rockpools Stone Age, referring to the ongoing use of stone tools); partly to descriptions of the women which at times were unnecessary.

I guess I‘d have been surprised if an author of his time and background didn‘t grate at times. However, his strong wish to throw light on injustice and campaign for the rights of indigenous peoples make him an interesting character. I‘m actually sorry to finish this, and I‘d like to read more by him. 3y
rockpools This is my #readingasia2021 for #Indonesia and #TimorLEste - one I definitely wouldn‘t have picked up otherwise. It‘s piqued my interest in the countries, and I look forward to coming back and reading Indonesian and own voices authors to explore the region further. @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle 3y
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TrishB Great review Rachel 👍🏻 3y
Librarybelle Great review! I love books that pique my interest in a topic or area and make me want to read more! 3y
andrew61 That looks fascinating I will definitely try and find it as I read his memoir about his wartime experience in southern Italy in the same publishers series a few years ago and loved it. 3y
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