Book Launch: She Wanted to be a Beauty Queen

She Wanted to be a Beauty Queen is the first-ever anthology of modern Javanese fiction in English translation. The stories range over issues of ethnic identity, male-female relationships, religious faith, status and face, making money, and how ‘Java’ sees the domineering reality of ‘Indonesia.’ Behind them lies a recognisably Javanese worldview deep-rooted in the island’s villages and small towns. The writing glows with sly humour expressed in an array of unique situations, characters, images, and writing conventions.

These stories from the cultural and geographical heart of Indonesia have been translated by Pak George Quinn, who taught Javanese and Indonesian language and literature at ANU for several decades until 2008. Since then, Pak George has continued to research and publish on Javanese and Indonesian culture. She Wanted to be a Beauty Queen will be launched by newly appointed lecturer in Indonesian language and expert on ancient Javanese and Balinese manuscripts, Dr Jarrah Sastrawan, and Ayu Hancock whose Honours research is focused on Javanese culture.

Read more at https://indonesiainstitute.anu.edu.au/event/book-launch-she-wanted-be-beauty-queen.