Multatuli

Bergh van Eysinga-Elias, Jeanette van den, 1880-19Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 235K words
Chapters: 24

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Multatuli by Jeanette van den Bergh van Eysinga-EliasAuthor: Bergh van Eysinga-Elias, Jeanette van den, 1880-1957,Language: Dutch, Class: PT: Language and Literatures: Germanic, Scandinavian, and Icelandic literatures, Release Date: Sep 16, 2007

Editor's review

Multatuli is a Dutch-language work by Janneke van den Berg-van Eijsinga-Elias, falling under the category of Germanic, Scandinavian, and Icelandic literature, and made freely available by Project Gutenberg. The title refers to the renowned Dutch writer Multatuli, a figure of landmark standing in Dutch literature and the tradition of colonial critique; the book therefore has documentary and critical value for readers seeking to understand that background. Note that the available information gives only the author, language, and classification, with no description of the contents, so it cannot be asserted on that basis whether it is a biography, a critical study, or some other genre. Its main barrier to access is language: the Dutch original poses difficulties for most Chinese readers and is better suited to those with a foundation in Dutch or engaged in related research. As for reading context, it is suitable as supplementary material for literary history and biographical study, to be used alongside Multatuli's own works rather than as casual reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers with Dutch reading ability
Scholars studying Multatuli and Dutch literature
Readers interested in colonial-era literary criticism
Enthusiasts collecting Project Gutenberg's minority-language titles

Not a good fit for

Chinese readers with no Dutch foundation at all
Those seeking only light, casual stories
General readers needing a Chinese translation for comparison

Reading tips

First learn the basics of Multatuli's life and major works; the book will be easier to follow.
Keep a Dutch dictionary or translation tool at hand and work through it chapter by chapter rather than forcing your way through the whole book.
Read it alongside Multatuli's own works, noting the author's evaluative angle and the scope of sources.
Take brief reading notes on the people and works mentioned, for easy reference later.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What language is this book in? Can Chinese readers read it?

The original is in Dutch, in the Germanic-language literature category. Chinese readers without Dutch face considerable difficulty and usually need a dictionary or translation tool; the available information does not indicate an official Chinese translation.

What does Multatuli in the title refer to?

Multatuli is the pen name of the Dutch writer Eduard Douwes Dekker, who had a profound influence on Dutch literature and colonial critique. The book takes this name as its title, indicating that its content relates to the man and his work, but the available information does not specify the genre or approach.

Is this book suitable as an introductory read?

Not really. It is more like Dutch-language documentation centered on a particular author, and it is best read after acquiring some basic background on Multatuli. If you are new to Dutch literature, start with representative works available in Chinese translation, then return to this book.

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About the author

Bergh van Eysinga-Elias, Jeanette van den, 1880-19 Author · Dutch · 1880

Bergh van Eysinga-Elias, Jeanette van den, born in 1880, was a Dutch writer. Public information about her life is limited, and the year of her death is not recorded in the available sources, so her education, career, and the full arc of her writing life cannot be reliably reconstructed. One work by her is known, Multatuli. The book concerns the celebrated Dutch author Multatuli, indicating her interest in and study of this literary figure. Judging by its subject, her writing leaned toward literary commentary and biographical study rather than fiction; such work generally requires familiarity with the subject's life, writings, and intellectual context, presented in clear prose. Multatuli therefore remains the main basis for understanding her authorial orientation. Given the scarcity of sources, her other activities, the full character of her style, and her later influence still await further verification.