So, you pick up this book thinking it's a straightforward biography of Multatuli, the literary giant. You quickly realize it's something else. Deyssel doesn't just tell a life story; he focuses on two explosive areas that defined Multatuli's world off the page.

The Story

The book is split into two main acts. The first act is a business-gone-bad story. It details how Multatuli, desperate to publish his masterpiece Max Havelaar, entrusted the manuscript to the well-connected lawyer and writer Jacob van Lennep. Van Lennep got it published, but he also heavily edited it, copyrighted it in his own name, and controlled the profits. What began as a rescue mission for a radical book became a source of lifelong resentment and legal battles for Multatuli, who felt cheated and censored.

The second act shifts to the personal, exploring Multatuli's complex relationships with the women in his life. We see his first wife, Tine, who suffered through poverty and his restless nature. After her death, his marriage to Mimi, a much younger woman, is portrayed with all its intensity and instability. The book suggests his idealism and demands created immense strain on those closest to him, presenting a stark contrast to the noble crusader of his public image.

Why You Should Read It

I found this fascinating because it makes a monument feel human. We love our heroes simple, but Deyssel refuses that. Here, Multatuli is brilliant, visionary, and principled, but also paranoid, difficult, and sometimes tragically selfish. The conflict with van Lennep isn't just about money; it's about artistic integrity versus practical reality. The sections on the women aren't gossip—they're a crucial look at the cost of genius, especially for the people living with it. It asks a tough question: can someone fight for justice in the world while causing chaos in their own home?

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves a deep, unvarnished character study. It's for readers of history and literature who are tired of the saintly portraits and want to understand the real, flawed person behind the famous name. If you enjoyed Max Havelaar, this is the essential, behind-the-scenes companion that shows you the fire and the fallout of creating such a work. Fair warning: it might complicate your feelings about Multatuli, but it will absolutely make him more real.