Waiting for the Barbarians
by J. M. Coetzee
Taste attributes: dramahistoricalpoliticalslowfresh & originalunsavouryheavylinearenclosedemotive & stirringinjustice/tragedy/vengeancehuman spirit/resilience/survivalsocial commentary
Boxlist takeA weighty novel that is emotional, original and unsavoury. Best if you like depth over escapism.
Taste details
Pace: balanced · Originality: fresh · Tone: dark · Weight: heavy · Realism: balanced · Story: balanced · Structure: balanced · Look: balanced · Scale: balanced · Emotional punch: stirringHow we score
Open Library rating
4.2 / 5
10 ratings
About This Book
For decades the Magistrate has run the affairs of a tiny frontier settlement, ignoring the impending war between the barbarians and the Empire, whose servant he is. But when the interrogation experts arrive, he is jolted into sympathy for the victims, and into a quixotic act of rebellion which lands him in prison.
Description: Open Library
Characteristics
Where this book sits on each taste spectrum
Genres and themes
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Details
- Author
- J. M. Coetzee
- Published
- 1980
- Pages
- 178
- Taste scores
- How we score
- Source
- Open Library
How book matches work
Books are scored on the same ten characteristics as films and matched with the same formula and your own match bands. Book scores are estimates, made from Open Library subjects and descriptions plus an AI reading.
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