Diaries from the rainforest
Exciting and stimulating texts
The entries in Manser’s diaries between 1984 and 1990 initiate their readers to life in the rainforest. They describe daily life and Penan culture and give an insight into the flora and fauna of their habitat. He wrote a total of sixteen diaries, and they include, for example, accounts of Penan mythology, instructions on making arrowheads, the description of a birth in the rainforest and a precise description of the nakan fruit (jack fruit) and how the Penan use it. Manser tells us of his first-hand experiences, shares with us his thoughts on human existence and writes reports on the destruction of the forest by the loggers and the resistance to the logging companies.
Illustrations that are accurate in detail and evocative of mood and atmosphere
Manser’s sketches and aquarelles document life in the rainforest and show him to be a skilful artist, portraying the people and nature around him with dedication and exactness. Thanks to the painstaking detail of his drawings, it is possible to determine the species of virtually every plant and animal depicted in them.
Meticulously prepared publication
In 2004, the Basel-based Christoph Merian publishing house published Manser’s diaries on behalf of the Bruno Manser Fund. The opus is richly illustrated and includes four volumes in a single slipcase. The transcription was made without any changes to the original text. The effort turned out to be worthwhile, and the first two print runs were sold out in only a few months.
