55 pages • 1 hour read
J. M. CoetzeeDisgrace
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1999A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee, South African professor David Lurie, after experiencing significant personal and professional turmoil, including estrangement from his daughter Lucy and a sexual harassment scandal with a student, retreats to Lucy's farm. His time there is marred by a violent attack and its aftermath, deeply affecting both their lives and capturing the complexities of post-apartheid South Africa. Contains graphic depictions of sexual violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace has been widely acclaimed for its profound exploration of post-apartheid South Africa, ethical dilemmas, and human frailty. Critics laud the novel's stark prose and moral complexity, though some find its bleak narrative and characters' actions difficult to engage with. Despite its controversial themes, it remains a compelling and thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read Disgrace?
Readers who appreciate complex, morally ambiguous portrayals of post-apartheid South Africa and intricate character studies, such as those found in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Waiting for the Barbarians by J. M. Coetzee, will be captivated by Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee.