Waiting for the Barbarians by J. M. Coetzee (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

By Bright Summaries

Unlock the more straightforward side of Waiting for the Barbarians with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of Waiting for the Barbarians by J. M. Coetzee, a thought-provoking novel which examines and questions the legitimacy of colonialism through the eyes of its protagonist, an unnamed Magistrate who governs a province that borders lands inhabited by a population of so-called barbarians. Through a series of encounters with both imperial soldiers and barbarians from the lands beyond the border, the Magistrate’s outlook, social standing and life are drastically and irreversibly altered. J. M. Coetzee is widely considered one of the most significant English-language authors currently active. He was born in South Africa but was granted Australian citizenship in 2006, and has won a variety of highly coveted literary awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature. However, very little is known about his personal life, as he is an extremely private individual.

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This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:

• A complete plot summary
• Character studies
• Key themes and symbols
• Questions for further reflection

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• Language: English
• Publisher: BrightSummaries.com
• Release date: Jun 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9782808002202

Book preview

SOUTH AFRICAN WRITER

Born in Cape Town in 1940.

Literary awards:

James Tait Black Memorial Prize, 1980 (for Waiting for the Barbarians)

Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize, 1981 (for Waiting for the Barbarians)

Man Booker Prize, 1983 and 1999 (for Life & Times of Michael K and Disgrace)

Jerusalem Prize, 1987

Nobel Prize in Literature, 2003

Notable works:

Life & Times of Michael K (1983), novel

Foe (1986), novel

Disgrace (1999), novel

J. M. Coetzee is generally considered one of the most significant English-language writers active today; however, it is interesting to note that he also grew up speaking Afrikaans, a language derived from Dutch which is spoken in South Africa. This is because Coetzee is descended from Dutch colonists who settled in South Africa in the 17th century, though he also has Polish and German heritage.

Although society has traditionally had a tendency to assume that most authors are dashing adventurers like Lord Byron, whose madcap escapades are often even stranger than the stories they write, Coetzee is part of a new generation of writers who prefer to write in seclusion, basing their work on academic research,