CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW
A. A Glimpse of The Laskar Pelangi Quartet
1. The Bestsellers
The Laskar Pelangi Quartet consists of four novels: Laskar Pelangi 2006, Sang Pemimpi 2006, Edensor 2007 and Maryamah Karpov: Mimpi-
mimpi Lintang 2008. Laskar Pelangi as the first novel is the most popular of all. It was firstly published in 2005 and then later it becomes a phenomenon in
Indonesian literature. Laskar Pelangi 2006 has been sold more than 500,000 copies and won the position of Must-Read Novel in every corner of the nations
bookshops and media review pages.
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Additionally, it was sold internationally in 33 countries, such as in Germany, Korea, China and Australia.
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The three novels of the quartet, Laskar Pelangi 2006, Sang Pemimpi 2006 and Edensor 2007
have already been adapted into movies. The movie Laskar Pelangi and Sang Pemimpi have received international awards in Singapore International Film
Festival and the Udine Far East International Film Festival in Italy.
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The movie could, surprisingly, attract five million viewers and it was considered as the
highest grossing Indonesian box-office.
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The setting of Laskar Pelangi 2006 is Belitung which is a portrait of a beautiful island with long history of tin mining which later becomes impoverished
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Iwan Seti, “LaskarPelangi”: The Audacity of Hope. 7 September 2008. http:www2.thejakartapost.comnews20080907039laskar-pelangi039-the-audacity-hope.html
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MitraTarigan, Laskar Pelangi Jadi Buku Best Seller International. 12 Februari 2013 http:www.tempo.com
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“Sang Pemimpi” Gets Second International Award. thejakartapost.com. 4
th
May 2010 http:www2.thejakartapost.comnews
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Cut Mini Wins Best Actress Award Brussels Film Festival. thejakartapost.com. 10
th
February 2010 http:www2.thejakartapost.comnews
by the destructive effects of the mining activities. This story represents the condition of society and region in Indonesia’s hinterland area and how children
spend their childhood in poverty trap and critical condition of education. Hence, Laskar Pelangi as a quartet is also based on the writer’s true story. Andrea Hirata
himself was born in Belitung and he portrayed his life journey through The Laskar Pelangi Quartet. In an interview,
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Hirata explained that initially the novel Laskar Pelangi was not going to be published. He wrote the novel to express his gratitude
and appreciation to his teachers in the Elementary School, Ibu Muslimah and Bapak Harfan Effendi, and a couple of his best friends. By coincidence, his friend
found the draft of the novel in his boardinghouse room, and sent it to a publisher quietly. The three sequels were later published after the success of the first novel.
2. The English Translated Version
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