From the jungles of Sulawesi to the streets of pre-war Amsterdam, The Birthmark tells the extraordinary story of a young Balinese prince as he grows up within the confines of a Balinese palace, faces culture shock during his education in Europe and embarks on a career as a roving doctor. Fighting disease and malnutrition in some of the remotest parts of the world, his account provides a fascinating evocation of a world long gone, as well as an insight into present-day Indonesia.