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Litseller
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Contemporary Fiction

Waiting for the Barbarians

John Maxwell Coetzee
eng. Waiting for the Barbarians · 1980
Prepared bythe Litseller editorial team.Our goal is to share concise, accurate, and valuable book notes for personal growth and education.
Interesting Facts

Interesting Facts

  • The book explores themes of colonialism, power, and morality through the lens of the relationship between the Empire and the barbarians.
  • The protagonist, the Magistrate, symbolizes moral struggle and internal conflict, trying to maintain his humanity amidst cruelty and injustice.
  • The work is inspired by Michel Foucault's essays on discipline and punishment, as well as the writings of Franz Kafka.
  • The title of the book refers to the poem «Waiting for the Barbarians» by Constantine Cavafy, which also explores the theme of fear of the unknown.
  • The book was adapted into a film of the same name in 2019, starring Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp, and Robert Pattinson.
Waiting for the Barbarians
Date of publication: 16 July 2024
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Author: 
John Maxwell Coetzee
Original title: eng. Waiting for the Barbarians · 1980
Content: 
This material is prepared for educational purposes and is not a reproduction of the original text. We do not use protected elements of the work (text, structure, unique scenes).