JAKARTA, Indonesia / BLOOMINGTON, United States (MNTV) β The acclaimed Indonesian novel Olenka by celebrated writer Budi Darma is set to reach a global readership this year, as it will be published in English for the first time in July 2026. The translation is being released by Lontar Foundation, a Jakarta-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting Indonesian literature internationally.
Olenka, originally published in Indonesian in 1983, won the prestigious ASEAN Literary Award in 1984. The novel is known for its surreal and psychological narrative, exploring themes of identity, memory, and cultural dislocation. Budi Darma (1937β2021) was a prominent Indonesian author and academic, and his work has been widely studied in Indonesian literary circles.
The English translation is by John H. McGlynn, a veteran translator of Indonesian literature and co-founder of the Lontar Foundation. The book will be available in print and digital formats, with distribution handled by select international booksellers. The Lontar Foundation has previously translated works by Pramoedya Ananta Toer and other Indonesian authors.
This publication marks a significant step in bringing Indonesian literature to a broader audience, as Olenka is considered a classic of modern Indonesian fiction. The novel's English debut is expected to introduce new readers to Darma's unique literary voice.
