The Cambridge Introduction to J. M. Coetzee Book

This introduction has good points and bad points, but I'm not sure if the bad points are due to the complexity of the subject and therefore are out of the author's hands.

Firstly, I think there is too much repetitiveness over Coetzee being seen as not responding to the political situation in South Africa when others see Coetzee as an anti-apartheid writer. Head repeats this statement and doesn't really delve into it nor explain in an organised way, there is no supporting evidence linked to either side. I think the contexts should have two sections dedicated to each perspective. The introduction also assumes knowledge about South African history and modernism/post-modernism. I think if the two perspectives were written it may have provided the missing background knowledge. I also agree with the other reviewer that one book cannot be discussed without reference to the other, but I think that is more highlighting what Coetzee has done than the author making those links.

I find the individual discussions on the each novel to be very astute, although I haven't read all of them. The chapter on Reception also provides a good bibliography. This book is a good bridge between introductory reading and more specialist/advanced reading. I do think the usefulness of this book will depend on what you are reading it for.