The Interpreter From Java

Alan Noland discovers his father's memoirs about the atrocities he committed in the Dutch East Indies during the war with Japan – and Alan begins to understand how war transformed his father into the monster he knew.

A masterly novel about the violence of colonialism, the war of decolonisation, the repatriation of the collaborators and the consequences all of this has had on the families of those involved

Birney mercilessly exposes a crucial part of Dutch history. This masterful novel will echo in the minds of its readers

What a great novel, its language and storytelling so light but also raw and lyrical. A tremendous writer. Read this book

A work of unbridled, incensed storytelling: an assault on the lazy assumptions of parochial, colonial history and a personal quest for redemption

Alfred Birney was born in 1951. For The Interpreter from Java he was awarded the Libris Literature Prize, the Netherlands' premier literary award, and the Henriëtte Roland Holst Prize. He lives in the Netherlands but speaks English fluently and will be coming to the UK for publication.

Alfred Birney was born in 1951. For The Interpreter from Java he was awarded the Libris Literature Prize, the Netherlands' premier literary award, and the Henriëtte Roland Holst Prize. He lives in the Netherlands but speaks English fluently and will be coming to the UK for publication.