Waiting for the BarbariansSet in an isolated outpost on the edge of a great Empire, WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS is a startling allegory of the war between oppressor and oppressed. The Magistrate, the novel's fascinating narrator, has been a loyal servant of the Empire, running the affairs of the frontier settlement, dabbling in antiquarianism, and ignoring constant reports of a threat from the "barbarians" who inhabit the uncharted deserts beyond the village. But when military personnel arrive with captured barbarians, he becomes witness to a cruel and unjust defense of the Empire. Outraged and, with military command controlling his village, powerless to prevent the persecution of the barbarians, he finds himself involved in an affair with one of the victims, a girl crippled, blinded, and orphaned by the torturers. Their relationship, intimate but devoid of true understanding, finally pushes him to a quixotic act of rebellion that brands him an enemy of the state. Rendered in an austere but richly suggestive prose, Coetzee's novel addresses universal political and philosophical issues of power and justice. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
arms barbarians beating begin beside body breath bring buttocks child Civil Guard cockroaches cold Colonel Joll comes corner crowd dark desert dogs door dream dust ears Empire empty eyes face feel feet fingers fire fisherfolk foot frontier gate girl granary grip guard hand head hear heart horses interro J. M. Coetzee keep kitchen lake leave lips Listen live look Magistrate Mandel meant to live memory of justice morning mouth never night nomads oasis pack-horses pain pass perhaps porridge prisoners push scullery maid shoulder shout side sleep slips smell smile snow snowcastle soldiers someone speak square squat stand stare sticks stop tear tell tent throat touch town turn voice waiting wake wall warrant officer wash watch whisper wind woman words young