The Hidden Force : A Story of Modern Java (Classic Reprint)

A sweeping tale of power, duty, and longing on the edge of empire that probes loyalty and longing in a divided world.

Set amid the political and cultural tensions of colonial Java, this work follows Van Oudijck, a European official, as he navigates authority, family duty, and shifting loyalties. The narrative blends intimate relationships with the larger forces of empire, offering a vivid portrait of a world where personal ambitions collide with inherited power.

Through nuanced scenes and richly drawn characters, the book examines how culture, climate, and ambition shape choices and destinies. The story unfolds with a focus on inner conflict, moral complexity, and the costs of empire for both the colonizer and the community he seeks to lead.

• Dense, atmospheric prose that centers character and mood as much as plot
• Two intertwined circles of personal and political life in a colonial setting
• Exploration of authority, family duty, and the pull of human longing
• Vivid depictions of Java and its people, seen through a European gaze

Ideal for readers who enjoy classic colonial-era fiction and deeply observed character studies in historical settings.

Louis Couperus was born in The Hague in 1863. Couperus spent much of his youth in the Dutch East Indies and many of his novels and stories are set there. Couperus gained prominence in 1889 with the publication of Eline Vere-a psychological novel influenced by the style of Zola and Flaubert. Eline Vere was followed by Ecstasy in 1892, Psyche in 1898 and Inevitable in 1900; all available from Pushkin Press. A renowned wit, raconteur and commentator, Couperus continued to publish critically and commercially successful work until his death from blood poisoning in 1923.