Publisher Description

From the double Booker Prize-winning author of Disgrace, 'a moving story of lost childhood' (Sunday Telegraph).

After crossing oceans, a man and a boy - both strangers to each other - arrive in a new land. David, the boy, has lost his mother and Simón vows to look after him. In this strange country they are each assigned a new name, a new birthday, a new life.

Knowing nothing of their surroundings, nor the language or customs, they are determined to find David's mother. Though the boy has no memory of her, Simón is certain he will recognise her at first sight. 'But after we find her,' David asks, 'what are we here for?'

The Childhood of Jesus is a profound, beautiful and continually surprising novel from a very great writer.

'Powerful and poetic... This book will continue to act, silently and unexpectedly, on the reader's imagination' Financial Times

Author Biography

J.M. Coetzee's work includes Waiting for the Barbarians, Life & Times of Michael K, Boyhood, Youth, Disgrace, Summertime, The Childhood of Jesus and, most recently, The Schooldays of Jesus. He was the first author to win the Booker Prize twice and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003.

Review

Richly enigmatic, with regular flashes of Coetzee's piercing intelligence -- Theo Tait * Guardian *
As ever, JM Coetzee manages to dodge every category with mesmeric cunning... This limpid, gnomic and surprisingly witty tale will take root in your imagination' -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *
There are lots of traditions and tales mixed in – along with mathematics and a wonderfully poetic use of language * Financial Times *
Engaging and thoughtful -- Theo Hobson * Tablet *
Written with all of Coetzee's penetrating rigour, it will be an early contender for an unprecedented third Booker prize -- Tim Adams * Observer *

Details