Waiting for the Barbarians
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
A magistrate in a country village protests the army's treatment of members of the barbarian tribes taken prisoner during a civil war and finds himself arrested as a traitor.
Peter Bergsma is a distinguished literary translator with extensive experience. His work is characterized by precision and a deep understanding of the original authors' texts. Bergsma focuses on preserving the spirit and style of the source material during its transfer into a new language. His translations are valued for their fluency and faithfulness to the original, bringing world literature to readers.






A magistrate in a country village protests the army's treatment of members of the barbarian tribes taken prisoner during a civil war and finds himself arrested as a traitor.
Set against the backdrop of apartheid, the narrative explores the complex emotions of a young boy navigating his relationships with his father, whom he despises, and his mother, whom he both adores and resents. Coetzee's evocative storytelling captures the themes of race, caste, and shame, intertwined with moments of bewildering humor. This poignant coming-of-age tale offers a profound reflection on identity and societal constraints, marking a significant addition to Coetzee's body of work.
Youth'S Narrator, A Student In 1950S South Africa, Has Long Been Plotting An Escape From His Native Country. Studying Mathematics, Reading Poetry, Saving Money, He Tries To Ensure That When He Arrives In The Real World He Will Be Prepared To Experience Life To Its Full Intensity, And Transform It Into Art. Arriving At Last In London, However, He Finds Neither Poetry Nor Romance. Instead He Succumbs To The Monotony Of Life As A Computer Programmer, From Which Random, Loveless Affairs Offer No Relief. Devoid Of Inspiration, He Stops Writing And Begins A Dark Pilgrimage In Which He Is Continually Tested And Continually Found Wanting. Set Against The Background Of The 1960S, Youth Is A Remarkable Portrait Of A Consciousness Turning In On Itself. J. M. Coetzee Explores A Young Man'S Struggle To Find His Way In The World With Tenderness And A Fierce Clarity.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Once in a great while, a book comes along that changes our view of the world. This magnificent novel from the Nobel laureate and author of Never Let Me Go is “an intriguing take on how artificial intelligence might play a role in our futures ... a poignant meditation on love and loneliness” (The Associated Press). • A GOOD MORNING AMERICA Book Club Pick! Here is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her. Klara and the Sun is a thrilling book that offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?
Elizabeth Costello is an Australian writer of international renown. Famous principally for an early novel that established her reputation, she has reached the stage where her remaining function is to be venerated and applauded. Her life has become a series of engagements in sterile conference rooms throughout the world - a private consciousness obliged to reveal itself to a curious public: the presentation of a major award at an American college where she is required to deliver a lecture; a sojourn as the writer in residence on a cruise liner; a visit to her sister, a missionary in Africa, who is receiving an honorary degree, an occasion which both recognise as the final opportunity for effecting some form of reconciliation; and a disquieting appearance at a writers' conference in Amsterdam where she finds the subject of her talk unexpectedly amongst the audience. She has made her life's work the study of other people yet now it is she who is the object of scrutiny. But, for her, what matters is the continuing search for a means of articulating her vision and the verdict of future generations.
Clay comes home on break from his East Coast college to a landscape of limitless privilege and absolute moral entropy, where the natives drive Porsches, dine at Spago, and gobble their Quaaludes from Pez dispensers. Where else can Clay go but down? "A teenage slice-of-death novel, no holds barred".--VILLAGE VOICE. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
After a life-altering cycling accident leads to the amputation of his leg, Paul Rayment grapples with complex emotions for his nurse and her attractive teenage son. His world is further disrupted by the unexpected visit of renowned Australian novelist Elizabeth Costello, who seeks to influence both his recovery and romantic entanglements. The interplay of personal struggles and external influences shapes a poignant narrative about love, loss, and the quest for direction in life.
In een brief aan haar dochter beschrijft een oude, blanke vrouw uit Kaapstad de wreedheden van de Apartheid waarmee ze de laatste maanden van haar leven wordt geconfronteerd.
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