**SkippingStonesHonorAwardWinner**ThetruestoryofaprincefromBali,whosefascinatinglifewasshapedbyuncommoneventsandexoticplaces.Bornin1919,PrinceMadeDjelantikwitnessedpivotalmomentsofhistory:thetwilightofafeudalage,theSecondWorldWarinNazi-occupiedHolland,Indonesia’slongbattleforindependencefromfourhundredyearsofDutchcolonialrule,andfinally,thegreatchangesprovokedonhisislandbyunbridleddevelopment.Drivenbyanearlypassionformedicine,theprincesetsailforEuropeontheeveofWWIItostudyattheUniversityofAmsterdam.Hiscallingthentookhimtofar-flungcornersoftheplanet,whereheencounteredeverythingfromapirateambushintheSouthChinaSeaandanightattackbyafamishedarmyofrats,toadeadlyvolcaniceruptionandhisarrestbySaddamHussein’ssecretpolice.WhenhereturnedtoBaliinthemid-1970s,hispublicidentityasadoctortookprecedenceoverhisroyallineageandhewasknownsimplyas“Dr.Djelantik“ontheisland.ThedoctorimplementedthesuccessfulcampaignwhichfinallyeradicatedmalariafromBaliandestablishedtheisland’sfirsthospital.AuthorIdannaPucci’sevocativenarrativeofthisunusuallifeistoldinshortstoryform,makingTheWorldOdysseyofaBalinesePrinceaneasyreadforanyonewhofindsthemselvesdreamingofdistantplaces.Morethan40ofDr.Djelantik’sownwatercolors--donewhenhewasinhis80s--helptoillustratehisadventuresinvividdetail.
