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A Wound Book Review

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Eka Kurniawan’s Indonesian epic / family-tale is being haunted by history in his Beauty is a Wound. Set in the riotous period in the pre-World War II era through the predominant parts of the 20th century, the book pulls off a fearless retelling of Dewi Ayu’s family history and of Indonesia’s history, in a graceful, non-oppressive, and unforced manner. It is a period of constant extraordinary shifts and turns spanning from the Dutch colonial rule to the shift onto the Japanese control, and even up to the Indonesians’ affiance on engagement on the uproar and revolution, attempted, successful and some failed coups, and the violent elimination and overthrowing of the republic’s first president. Far from dead and buried are history and a few characters from the book manifested in the way at least one character rises from sleep, while the others found their way in various forms of spirits. Indeed, the novel commences remarkably:
“One afternoon on a weekend in May, Dewi Ayu rose from her grave after being dead for twenty-one years.” (1)

Dewi Ayu was born to Henri and Aneu Stammler in the 1920s, was raised in the port city of Halimunda by her grandparents who both lived as Dutch plantation owners (a rich family). Her parents share the same father but different mothers, making them …show more content…

Yet for all that, its length, its brave attempt on history and the times, Kurniawan’s novel never lacked just one bit short a sensibility. It is filled with witty humour and which language is evocative and masculine. A soldier urged, “feel free to make love here as if you were in your very own home,” and the other responds: “That’s ridiculous. All I’ve got at home is my mom and my old granny.” A ghost, when asked how he is, replies: “Terrible, Comrade. I’m

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