Based on the author's actual experiences, "Max Havelaar" is one of the most powerful indictments of colonialism ever written. The novel offers a gripping account of colonial atrocities in Indonesia. The style ranges from informal everyday language to a rhythm reminiscent of biblical passages. The refinement and complexity of the satire in the work were even compared by D.H. Lawrence to satirical masters such as Swift, Gogol, and Twain.