This book is an anthology of Ahmad Tohari’s fifteen short-stories that had appeared in countless newspapers between 1983 and 1997. Like his novels, his short-stories always have distinct characteristics. He always portrays the lives of the poor people or the low working class, with all their pain and struggles. Ahmad Tohari knew their lives well. As a result, he was able to weave the stories with a touching sympathy and empathy that can enrich the readers’ mind. ...

This short story collection contains 13 short stories by Ahmad Tohari which were written between 1976 and 1986. Like his previous works, in this collection Tohari stays true to his path and presents the village life as well as the daily struggles of the poor and innocent people. As what has been described in the “Foreword”, Tohari’s strength lies in the village setting which is rich with intricate details about the local plants and animals. Apart from that, Tohari’s style is clear, ...

Set in the tumultuous days of the mid 1960s, The Dancer describes a village community struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing world. It also provides readers with a ground-level view of the political turmoil leading up to and following the abortive Communist coup. ...