The diary of 24-year-old Indonesian medical student Suhario Padmodiwiryo,alias 'Hario Kecik," Revolution in the City of Heroes is an evocative first-handaccount of the popular uprising in Surabaya. It vividly portrays the chaotic swirlof events and the heady emotion of young people ready to sacrifice their livesfor independence.Newly liberated from nearly four brutal years under Japanese control, thepeople of Indonesia faced great uncertainty in October 1945. As the BritishArmy attempted to take control of the city of Surabaya, maintain order anddeal with surrendered Japanese personnel, their actions were interpreted bythe young residents of Surabaya as a plan to restore Dutch colonial rule. Inresponse, the youth of the city seized Japanese arms and repelled the force sentto occupy the city. They then held off British reinforcements for two weeks,battling tanks and heavy artillery with little more than light weapons and sheeraudacity. Though eventually defeated, Surabaya's defenders had set the stagefor Indonesia's national revolution.