First published 1988
In "White Writing," renowned South African author J.M. Coetzee examines the complex relationship between language, identity, and the white experience under apartheid. Through a series of interconnected essays, Coetzee dissects the literary canon, exploring how white writers grappled with the moral and psychological challenges of their position. From the pastoral nostalgia of early Afrikaner authors to the experimental forms of modernist poets, Coetzee unveils the ways in which white writing both reflected and shaped the social and political realities of the time. At the heart of this work lies a profound meditation on the power of words to both conceal and reveal the truths of a deeply divided society.
Genres: literary-criticism, literary-fiction, 20th-century, african-literature
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary
Setting: South Africa
Period: 20th-century
195 pages · Paperback · Pentz Publishers