Azab dan Sengsara was written by Merari Siregar to "show the traditions and habits which are less than desirable amongst [Batak] people, especially the men.

[2] Amiruddin, the son of a village leader in Sipirok, falls in love with his cousin Mariamin, the daughter of a formerly-rich family.

During the course of the novel, statements are made directly to the reader, giving advice and indicating traditions considered undesirable.

[1] Azab dan Sengsara discusses forced marriage and its relation to a family's public image.

The relationship between Amiruddin and his matrilineal cousin Mariamin is acceptable in Batak culture, as it does not violate the restriction on marrying people from the same marga.

[3] However, others, including Dutch critic A. Teeuw and writer A. H. Johns, consider Sitti Nurbaya to be the first true Indonesian novel.

[2] In 2009, the Jakarta Globe reported that Azab dan Sengsara was one of "eight works of excellent literary standing ... chosen for re-release from the Balai Pustaka collection.