Print Passages : Colonial Book Culture in the Dutch East Indies

Print Passages researches the history of the coming of the printed book in Indonesia and the consequences this new technology brought with it. Never before has the book culture in Indonesia been studied this thoroughly. Although printed material has become intertwined with everyday life in the 21st century, book culture has not always been as self-evident. During the occupation by the Netherlands, the printing press was introduced in Indonesia (Dutch East Indies), after which the cultural and intellectual life around books and other printed matter could flourish, especially after 1816. Although printed matter was used to colonise and control the land, it also gave the resistance a voice and the possibility to spread that voice and its message.  Through an exploration of selected themes, Kuitert answers practical questions such as how Dutch language researchers and printers found their way to and in Indonesia, but also dives into the parallel printing culture that was entirely run by Indonesians, often with a Chinese background.  Based on research that often included obscure documents, secret notes, and reports, Kuitert brings the history of the book to life in a way that almost reads like an adventure novel. The book is beautifully illustrated.