Content levels
Positive tags
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Synopsis
One hundred and sixty years ago, a young Englishman founded a private raj on the coast of Borneo. The world that resulted, boasting stone quays, elegant gardens, churches, and musical levees, eventually encompassed a territory the size of England, its expansion campaigns paid for in human heads. In this world, a version of Victorian colonial society impacted with one of the most violent cultures on earth. The results were often startling - pockets of tenderness and extreme brutality appearing in odd corners. A small tribe of fugitives, adventurers, criminals, and saints - the madly talented and the simply mad - peopled this world. This is their story. The deeper story resides in the realm of the heart. It is about love in absurd conditions, the tenacity of it as well as our ability to miss it repeatedly and with perverse genius.
Kalimantaan: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This literary historical fantasy depicts brutal colonial violence including headhunting, cultural exploitation, and the dark underbelly of empire-building in 19th-century Borneo. The violence is integral to the story's examination of colonialism's impact.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, moderate sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include graphic violence, murder, and death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers interested in literary explorations of colonialism and the clash between Victorian society and indigenous cultures will find this thought-provoking.