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The Scattered Dust of Love

Is the Indonesian community in Australia aware that a "literary jewel" has lived in our midst since the early 1960s?

Achdiat Karta Mihardja came to Australia with his wife and young family to lecture in Indonesian literature and culture, at the Australian National University, filling the post until his retirement. He has been a prolific novelist, and the quality of his work has led to his being recognised as among the "top ten" of Indonesian novelists. Back about 1970 Achdiat published a novel "Debu cinta bertebaran" which is, like most of Achdiat's work, no longer in print. There was an English translation made, some years later, by a young woman who today heads the Department of Indonesian at the University of Tasmania, Dr Pam Allen. But it was never, until now, published.

It was a strong wish of Achdiat's that this book, in its English version The Scattered Dust of Love, see the light of day. The Australia Indonesia Association (ACT) undertook to see it through the press, quickly and inexpensively. After all, as Pak Aki points out, he is ninety-one years of age - time was of the essence!

The story is set in Sydney in the 1960s: chief character is an Indonesian journalist, Rivai, and it is his relationship with a wide range of Indonesians and Australians that makes the book so interesting. It portrays values, scenes of other days. One learns from these values "how it was", then. There are wonderful cameo sketches of people - Indonesian officials, students in an artists' life class, university people, businessmen, even a derro. Best of all is Achdiat's skilfully wrought tale of Rivai's growing feeling for Deanne, an Australian post-graduate student.

Price $20, includes postage and packing within Australia. Obtainable from AIA (ACT), 31 Blackbutt Street, Lyneham ACT 2602.