Disgrace  (English, Paperback, Coetzee J.M.)

In this book, Coetzee has attempted to bring out the effect of the post-apartheid culture. The story revolves around an English professor who has been caught having illegal relationships with some of the girls in his class. If he wants to keep his job, he must apologize for his acts in public.

Summary of the Book

A middle-aged professor is left humiliated when the news if his illicit relations with his students has been exposed. He has been asked to apologize in public if he wants to save his job. He isn’t too happy about this, as he feels he is being made a victim by people who are trying to push their idea of political correctness onto the people. He leaves his job and, eventually his city. The only place he can stay in is his lesbian daughter’s farm. He only stays for a short while as he does not have a very peaceful relationship with his daughter and there is a lot that they haven’t spoken about from the past. As if things aren’t already difficult for them, they become the targets of a terrifying and life threatening attack. This novel by Coetzee throws light on the sexual politics in South Africa.

About J. M. Coetzee

John Maxwell Coetzee is a South African novelist, linguist, essayist and translator. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in the year 2003. He later relocated to Australia and lives in Adelaide. In 2006, he became an Australian citizen. He has previously been awarded the CNA Prize, the Prix Femina Etranger, The Irish Times International Fiction Prize and the Booker Prize.