Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
All characters reduced
The Hidden Force - A Story of Modern Java - cover

The Hidden Force - A Story of Modern Java

Louis Couperus

Translator Alexander Teixeira de Mattos

Publisher: DigiCat

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Summary

In "The Hidden Force," Louis Couperus crafts a compelling narrative that skillfully weaves together themes of fate, tradition, and the unseen forces that govern human existence. Set against the backdrop of the Dutch colonial era in Indonesia, the novel explores the lives of the Javanese aristocracy, juxtaposing Western ideals with Eastern mysticism. Couperus employs a rich, impressionistic literary style, characterized by vivid descriptions and introspective prose, evoking the complexities of cultural identity and the inexorable pull of ancestral legacies. The layered narrative invites readers to question the nature of power and individuality, making it a profound exploration of human experience within its societal constraints. Louis Couperus, one of the foremost Dutch authors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, drew upon his own experiences in the East Indies and his comprehensive understanding of philosophy and art to create this poignant work. His exposure to diverse cultures and ideologies deeply influenced his portrayal of the psychic tensions between the East and West. Couperus's explorations of existential themes reflect his own life challenges and provide insight into the tumultuous social changes of his time. "The Hidden Force" is not merely a novel; it is an invitation to delve into the intricate dance between destiny and free will. Readers interested in cultural conflicts, psychological depth, and historical settings will find Couperus's masterful storytelling both enlightening and moving. Highly recommended for those who appreciate literature that probes the philosophical undercurrents of life.
Available since: 05/28/2022.
Print length: 266 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • Family Affairs at Orchard Cottage Hospital - A next instalment in an emotional historical saga series from Lizzie Lane - cover

    Family Affairs at Orchard...

    Lizzie Lane

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    From bestselling author Lizzie Lane's Cottage Hospital series 
    Times are changing as secrets unfold… 
    Somerset, 1931  Doctor Frances Brakespeare continues to settle into her new life in rural Somerset at Orchard Cottage Hospital, striving to improve the medical treatments on offer to the community. 
    After successfully establishing a mother and baby clinic, Frances is determined to move with the times and add family planning advice to her roster – but are the residents of Norton Dene ready for such progress or will she face opposition? 
    In her personal life, her relationship with the Reverend Gregory Sampson becomes her safe haven whilst battling with an embittered family relative in London. As always, Frances strives to honour the values inherited from her late benefactress Izzy Brakespeare. 
    As further dark family secrets and sins unfold, it seems the Brakespeare family name will have more resonance to Frances than she ever imagined and when a stranger enters her life, Frances may finally have the answers she has always sought. 
    Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke, Fenella Miller and Patricia McBride. 
    If you love this, try Lizzie's Tobacco Girls and Coronation Close series 
    Praise for Lizzie Lane: 
    'An absorbing and fascinating read that kept me turning the pages until the early hours. Simply wonderful.' - Tracy Baines 
    'What a fantastic, unforgettable new series by the fabulous Lizzie Lane. I loved it!' - AnneMarie Brear 
    'Lizzie Lane has done it again! Fantastic writing, beautifully drawn characters and wonderful plotlines! What's not to love?' - Rachel Brimble 
    'A gripping saga and a storyline that will keep you hooked' - Rosie Goodwin 
    'A heartwarming tale of love and friendship and a must-read for all saga fans' - Jean Fullerton 
    'If you want an exciting, authentic historical saga then look no further than Lizzie Lane' - Fenella J Miller 
    'I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A New Doctor At Orchard Cottage Hospital' and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Lizzie's work in the future' - Ginger Book Geek 
    'Such a delight to read and by the end I felt invested in every character. Strong women and gorgeous men, combined with some brilliantly written baddies made it a perfect read. I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next instalment' - Reader Review 
    'This is a heartwarming read, with some endearing characters (and some not so!) and in such an idyllic setting, I could completely visualise the setting' - Reader Review 
    '😄 i didn't want it to end I'm hoping there would be a follow on as I'd like to find out more' - Reader Review
    Show book
  • The Heroic Slave - cover

    The Heroic Slave

    Frederick Douglass

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    In the hush between history and myth, some voices refuse to fade.
    One of them rises beneath the pines of Virginia—speaking not to a crowd, but to the wind. Shackled in body, unbroken in spirit. A man, not yet a symbol. A voice, not yet remembered. But already unforgettable.
    The Heroic Slave is Frederick Douglass at his most daring—blending fact and fiction into something fiercer than either. In Madison Washington, he shapes more than a character: he channels the rhythm of revolt, the breath of those who ran, and the silence of those who couldn't.
    This is not a tale polished for comfort. It is hunger and hope, iron and prayer. It moves in murmurs and outcries. It carries the weight of chains—and the sound of them breaking. What you hear may not be history as it was written. But it is history as it was felt.
    Listen closely.
    Some voices were never meant to go quiet.
    Show book
  • A Certain Freedom - cover

    A Certain Freedom

    Evelyn Hood

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Not Yet Available
    Show book
  • The Things We'll Never Have - cover

    The Things We'll Never Have

    Hilary Hauck

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Winner of the Historical Fiction Company's “Highly Recommended” award of excellence, The Things We’ll Never Have is part mystery, part psychological drama set in 1960s Italy about family, friendship, and the lies that bind us. 
    The brightest things in Everleigh’s otherwise dull days in 1964 London are colors, fashion she’s not brave enough to wear, and the idea of the enchanted life she’ll inherit when she marries Gualtiero. But her dreams are crushed when her beloved mysteriously vanishes before the wedding. Everleigh travels to Italy, convinced he’s returned to his hometown, but when she tracks down the man everyone knows as Gualtiero, she has never seen him before. The question is no longer where her fiancé is, but who he is.  
    Determined to uncover the truth, Everleigh teams up with two unlikely friends. Soon, she unlocks a shocking truth about Gualtiero that propels the three women on a collision course that will shatter everything they thought they knew about family—and themselves. 
    “An arresting and unpredictable tale of family.” Kirkus Reviews
    Show book
  • The Paris Mystery - cover

    The Paris Mystery

    Kirsty Manning

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Paris, 1938. The last sigh of summer before the war. 
     
    As Australian journalist Charlotte ‘Charlie’ James alights at the Gare du Nord, ready to start her role as correspondent for The Times, Paris is in turmoil as talk of war becomes increasingly strident. 
     
    Charlie is chasing her first big scoop, needing to prove to her boss that she can do this job as well as, if not better than, her male counterparts. And the best way to forge the necessary contacts quickly is to make the well-connected expats, Lord and Lady Ashworth, her business. Lady Eleanor knows everyone who counts, and at her annual sumptuously extravagant party, Charlie will meet them all. 
     
    On the summer solstice eve, the party is in full swing with the cream of Parisian society entranced by burlesque dancers, tightrope walkers, a jazz band and fireworks lighting the night skies. But as Charlie is drawn into the magical world of parties, couture houses and bohemian wine bars, secrets start to unravel, including her own. Putting a foot wrong could spell death… 
     
    In this magnificent new beginning to the joyful Charlie James series, Manning beguiles with glamour and mystery set in pre-war Paris.
    Show book
  • Until We Meet - We'll Meet Again Book 2 - cover

    Until We Meet - We'll Meet Again...

    Rhonda Forrest

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    A small garrison of Australian soldiers is left to defend a town and its people against the might of the Japanese forces. This is a story of those who were left behind and those who waited for them to return. 
    *** 
    In early 1940, Bud joins the United States Navy, his aim, to become a US Submariner. Less than two years later, Japanese forces bomb Pearl Harbour. Those living on the islands of New Guinea lie directly in the path of the oncoming enemy. 
     
    In Rabaul, Joanie prepares to depart, leaving behind her fiancée, those who she loves and many who she has become friends with. As the volcano Tavurvur gathers its forces and bursts forth from its crater, the ill-equipped, small Australian defence known as Lark Force is left to secure the small town. Overwhelmed by the large enemy forces, the order is given, ‘every man for themselves.’ Although some will survive, 1053 men lose their lives when a US Submarine sinks the POW Japanese ship, Montevideo Maru. The seeds of destiny are sown and the lives of the American submariner, Bud, and those in Rabaul, intrinsically linked. 
     
    Will Michael return to fulfil his promise of marrying Joanie and what will be the fate of his young daughter, Gracie, who still turns to the evening star for guidance, for her questions to be answered, and above all to be reunited with her father. 
     
    Until We Meet is an epic saga, based on actual events that continues the story of Elizabeth’s Star. A tale of survival, love and family, set amidst the backdrop of World War II.
    Show book