Tussen Schemering en Dageraad

Title	Tussen Schemering en Dageraad
Subtitle	Achtergronden van de Wayang Poerwa
Category	Wayang
Author	John M. Knaud
Publisher	Frans Coene BV, Den Haag
Published	1980
Language	Dutch
ISBN-ASIN	9789070301248

Summary

Java does not have the exclusive right to show shadow plays. They can also be found elsewhere in the world. However, nowhere is shadow play so highly developed; so influencing life and dominating the world of thought and at the same time so superb in design and performance as in Java.
When the reader looks at the bibliography included in this work, he will probably wonder whether the addition of this book to such an impressive number of studies on the wajang poerwa is not completely superfluous.

We can give the following answer to that: In several respects, the literature mentioned is more difficult to access than is generally thought. The majority of the works mentioned are only available second-hand at exorbitant prices. A reason for libraries and scientific institutes to no longer lend these works. They may be consulted on site. If the interested party finally sees this specialist literature, he will soon notice that it is not easy to read. The interested party without a scientific background will soon lose track in a maze of comparative studies, references and footnotes. Our assignment was to provide information in plain language about the background and possible origins of the Javanese puppet theatre called wajang poerwa. An assignment that involves restrictions for the sake of clarity. However, we paid ample attention to essential and interesting matters for the reader. In doing so, we aimed for a pleasantly readable language.

The chapters on wajang poerwa are preceded — in a nutshell — by the cultural history of the people of Java. After all, it is logical to want to know where the people, who possess such a unique cultural heritage, originally came from and how it developed.
"Tussen Schemering en Dageraad" answers many questions about wajang poerwa. Questions that are often asked to the editors of publisher Moesson and which show that interest in the subject is increasing. That is why this book meets a growing need in every respect.