Laksmi Pamuntjak (22 December 1971) is an Indonesian poet, essayist, and award-winning novelist and food writer.
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Laksmi Pamuntjak | |
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Born | Jakarta, Indonesia |
Nationality | Indonesian |
Known for | Poet, writer |
Pamuntjak has written several novels as well as articles for local and international publications, including opinion articles for the Guardian.[1]
Born in Jakarta, Pamuntjak is of Minangkabau descent from Sungai Puar, West Sumatra. Her grand father Kasoema Sutan Pamuntjak was an editor of Balai Pustaka and founder of CV Djambatan, a publishing company.[2]
Pamuntjak, who writes in Indonesian and English, is the author of two collections of poetry; a collection of poetry and prose; a treatise on the relationship between man and violence based on the Iliad; a collection of short stories based on paintings; four editions of the award-winning The Jakarta Good Food Guide;[3] two translations of the works of Goenawan Mohamad, and two best-selling novels.
Pamuntjak's first novel Amba,[4] a national bestseller, was the winner of the Literaturpreis 2016.[5] The novel is a modern take on The Mahabharata,[6] set against the backdrop of the Indonesian mass killings of 1965 and the Buru penal colony. The novel has been translated into English, German and Dutch. The US edition, The Question of Red,[7] was published in July 2016.
The English translation of Pamuntjak's second novel, Aruna dan Lidahnya,[8] was due for publication in the US in early 2017. A movie adaptation based on the book was announced, to star Dian Sastrowardoyo.[9]
In August 2015, the German translation of Amba, Alle Farben Rot,[10] was Number 1 on the Weltempfaenger[11] list for the best international work of fiction translated into German. It has also appeared on the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung's[12] list of 8 Most Important Novels of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2015, De Bild's[13] Top 10 Books of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2015, and the ORF Kultur (Austria)'s[14] Top 10 List for November 2015.
In 2012, Pamuntjak, co-founder of the bilingual Aksara Bookstore, was selected as the Indonesian representative at the Poetry Parnassus/Cultural Olympics,[15] Her prose and poetry was mentioned in the preface to Not a Muse: A World Poetry Anthology[16] (2008).
Between 2009 and 2011, Pamuntjak wasa jury member of the Prince Claus Awards.[17] She has one daughter, Nadia Larasati, aged 24.
In 2016, Pamuntjak received the LiBeraturpreis for her novel Amba.[18]
Pamuntjak winning Germany's LiBeraturpreis 2016
Laksmi Pamuntjak's novel Amba/Alle Farben Rot No. 1 on Germany's Weltempfaenger List 2015 for Best Fiction
Laksmi Pamuntjak's novel Amba/Alle Farben Rot in German and Austrian Top 10 Best Books Lists 2015
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