A Brief History of Indonesia - (Brief History of Asia) by Hannigan (Paperback)

About the Book

"Indonesia is the fabled Spice Islands of every school child's dreams--one of the most colorful ... countries in history. These are the islands that Europeans set out on countless voyages to discover and later fought bitterly over in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. This was the land that Christopher Columbus sought and Magellan actually reached and explored ... This ... book tells the story of Indonesia as a narrative of kings, traders, missionaries, soldiers, and revolutionaries--featuring stormy sea crossings, fiery volcanoes, and the occasional tiger"--

Book Synopsis

Sultans, Spices, and Tsunamis: The Incredible Story of the World's Largest Archipelago

Indonesia is by far the largest nation in Southeast Asia and has the fourth largest population in the world after the United States. Indonesian history and culture are especially relevant today as the Island nation is an emerging power in the region with a dynamic new leader. It is a land of incredible diversity and unending paradoxes that has a long and rich history stretching back a thousand years and more.

Indonesia is the fabled "Spice Islands" of every school child's dreams--one of the most colorful and fascinating countries in history. These are the islands that Europeans set out on countless voyages of discovery to find and later fought bitterly over in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. This was the land that Christopher Columbus sought, and Magellan reached and explored. One tiny Indonesian island was even exchanged for the island of Manhattan in 1667!

This fascinating history book tells the story of Indonesia as a narrative of kings, traders, missionaries, soldiers and revolutionaries, featuring rough sea crossings, fiery volcanoes, and the occasional tiger. It recounts the colorful visits of foreign travelers who have passed through these shores for many centuries--from Chinese Buddhist pilgrims and Dutch adventurers to English sea captains and American movie stars. For readers who want an entertaining introduction to Asia's most fascinating country, this is delightful reading.

Review Quotes

"...[Tim Hannigan's] books are charmingly free of pre-conceived notions of specialization. They entertain readers while offering sharp insights into Asian history." --PopMatters Magazine

"...Hannigan, a feature writer who hones his writing skills by reading a lot of fiction, manages to capture this heavy and rich history in a very easy to understand and entertaining narrative." --The Jakarta Post

"A Brief History of Indonesia is an intelligent and lucidly-written piece of work that has more than enough content and drama to attract the general Asian history reader; and is the perfect companion for travellers and tourists who wish to delve deeper than their travel guide's history section and get closer to the beating heart of this troubled yet remarkable nation." --Asian Review of Books

"A Brief History of Indonesia packs a few thousand years of history into a relatively slim volume. It's no mean feat for its author Tim Hannigan, who punctuates stories from the past with his own experiences." --Western Morning News

"Light and entertaining, A Brief History of Indonesia is a highly readable, informative, solid and irreverent introduction to this sprawling island nation." --Tempo (English)

"The book has been a best-seller in Indonesian bookshops, with the publisher having to order a second print run within a month of publication." --The Cornishman

"The subtitle says it all: 'Sultans, Spices, and Tsunamis: The Incredible Story of Southeast Asia's Largest Nation.' Indonesia expert Hannigan offers a highly readable and entertaining narrative that highlights the many personalities who have shaped the nation -- and our perception of it. English pirates, Indian mystics, Chinese pilgrims, American surfers, Dutch spice barons join a cavalcade of Javanese royals, Balinese dancers and more." --Lonely Planet

"Tim Hannigan presents Indonesia as a place of high drama, with a past marked by European trade battles, explorers like Magellan and Christopher Columbus, and waves of immigrants. He guides the reader through the reign of Sukarno (1945-1967) and others of lesser, but no less corruptible, reputation, to settle with guarded optimism with the current president, Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi." --Foreword Magazine

About the Author

Tim Hannigan's first book, Murder in the Hindu Kush (The History Press, 2011) was shortlisted for the Boardman-Tasker Prize. His second book Raffles and the British Invasion of Java (Monsoon Books, 2012) won the 2013 John Brooks Award. His features and travel articles appear regularly in newspapers and magazines in Indonesia and beyond.