Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee

"Disgrace" by J. M. Coetzee. This book is published by Vintage in 2000 and has 220 pages. My father recommended this book and gave me a copy to read. 

This is the story of a twice divorced South African professor, David Lurie, who has an affair with one of his student. Her parents lean on her to lodge a complaint of sexual harrasment. An inquiry is set up. 

What will be the outcome of inquiry? Who will be found at fault? Will the proffessor gain his lost respect or will it be a disgrace? Where will he go? What will he encounter? Is the disgrace limited to him?

Character of David is very interesting. He is a proffessor of literature but has to teach communication due to rationalization. His heart is not in it. He loves all things beautiful, especially women. He has a series of affairs. He is a critique of literature and has books on his name. He wants to write about Byron. He actually uses sexual harassment charge to escape the staid life and venture into something new. Reader sympathizes with his restlessness and suffocation when his daughter is raped. Character of Melanie is under developed. Why Lucy wants to stay put despite knowing the eventuality of loosing everything, including honor, is baffling. Character of Bev, who kills animals out of love, is interesting.

Violation of a white lady and robbery of her belongings by black assailants in post aperhhide South Africa is a very powerful sub plot. And if the lady decides not to press charges due to the feeling of disgrace how much would she suffer and how much would her father suffer due to her suffering?

Its a novel describing the grim realities of modern day South Africa where class divide and then the abolishment has destabilized the society. 

David's passion is to write an opera on the life of English poet Byron and his Italian mistress Teresa. While he writes and composes music, does he see himself in Byron? Is there an allegory? Indeed there is. Not only in the opera but also about the dogs that he helps to dispose off respectfully after they are put down. 

David goes from being a proffessor to becoming disgraced to a farmer to a dog undertaker to an opera writer and back as dog undertaker. 

It's a disturbing novel. But powerfully written. It's dark. 

Read if you like the genre.