Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s transcendent novels have become part of the world literary canon, but it is his short fiction that originally made him famous. The first full-size collection of his short stories to appear in English, All That Is Gone draws from the author’s own experiences in Indonesia to depict characters trying to make sense of a war-torn culture haunted by colonialism, among them an eight-year-old girl soon to be married off by her parents for money and an idealistic young soldier who witnesses the savage beating of a man accused of being a spy. Though violence and brutality pervade these tales, there is present throughout a profound sense of compassion—an extraordinary combination of despair and hope that gives All That Is Gone rare power and beauty. This novel tells the story of humanity's struggle to face the uncertainties of life, particularly after Indonesia's independence, when many old traditions began to erode due to modernization and the changing times. As a writer with a strong background in Indonesia's socio-political history, Pramoedya uses a rich and profound narrative to reveal the conflicts occurring both on a personal and societal level. In All That Is Gone, Pramoedya introduces themes of loss, sacrifice, and the shifting values within Indonesian society. Overall, the book serves as a reflection on the struggle for identity in a changing world. Like many of his other works, this book also offers a critique of the existing social and political conditions, as well as exploring the challenges individuals face in trying to find their place in a world full of uncertainty and change. About the Author Pramoedya Ananta Toer, born on the island of Java in 1925, was imprisoned first by the Dutch, then by the Indonesian government as a political prisoner. He received the PEN Freedom to Write Award and the Ramon Magsaysay Award.