Waiting for the Barbarians, (Paperback)

from JosephJ

Lyrically-written novel about an aged magistrate of a dominant society, who is afforded the luxury of reflection upon his own life as well as the society he holds in esteem. He, however, comes to think that the Empire is not as civilized as it seems. It is character that drives this story forward...

from blackhornet

I loved the setting of this book. Because of Coetzee's background I started off assuming it was somewhere in Africa but by the end could not imagine anywhere on earth that is really so harsh, certainly in terms of the extremes of climate and the curious combination of the fertile and arid. It was...

from Kristelh

This book, written by South African author J. M. Coetzee in 1980, tells the story of a magistrate of an outpost of the Empire. The magistrate and the Empire are never given a name. The Empire sends some soldier's or government agents to investigate the barbarians and to stop any insurrection that...

from BooksForDinner

The first Coetzee I've read. Found the main character to be sad in so many ways--growing old, body failing, unfulfilling relationships, loss of power, abuse, embarrassment. Ooof.

from siafl

This is my favourite book by Coetzee and Coetzee has now become my favourite author. This book is masterful with elegant narrative and a display of beautiful words used like no one else could. It reminds me of the movie "Dances with Wolves" until the latter stages of the book, as well as some asp...