Details of: Max Havelaar of de koffieveilingen der Nederlandsche handelsmaatschappij

Just after assistant resident (colonial district chief) Slotering of Lebak, on Java, reproaches his dinner host the regent (native feudal ruler) to over-exert the local commoners, he dies of poisoning. The post goes to naive idealist Max Havelaar, who means his oath of officer to protect the locals. He hopes paying the native officials better, even advances at his own expense, will allow them to fulfill their family obligations. After Max finds the abuses continues, even worse now than he imagined, a test of force starts, which ruins many lives, mainly but not only native. Interwoven is the story of Saïdjah's farming family and their water buffaloes.