"Max Havelaar" is a novel written by Multatuli, the pen name of Dutch author Eduard Douwes Dekker, published in 1860. The book critiques the colonial exploitation of the Indonesian island of Java by the Dutch government and highlights the injustices faced by the local population. It is considered one of the first works of social protest literature. The novel's title character, Max Havelaar, is a Dutch official who resigns in protest against the corrupt practices of the colonial system. His story serves as a call for reform and greater awareness of the plight of the Javanese people. "Max Havelaar" has had a lasting impact on literature and social justice movements.