J.M Coetzee Life &Times Of Michael K (Pre Loved Used Book) | Literary fiction book

Title: Life and Times of Michael K

Author: J. M. Coetzee

ISBN-10: 0140074481

ISBN-13: 9780140074482

Publisher: Penguin Books

Publication Year: 1985

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages:  184 pages 

Genre: Literary Fiction / Political Fiction

Life and Times of Michael K is a powerful and thought-provoking novel set in a war-torn South Africa during a period of civil unrest. The story follows Michael K, a quiet and simple man who works as a gardener in Cape Town.

When his mother becomes seriously ill, Michael decides to take her back to her rural birthplace. However, their journey is filled with hardship, and after her death, Michael is left alone in a country collapsing under violence, military control, and strict bureaucracy. 

As he moves through this chaotic world—facing imprisonment, hunger, and displacement—Michael seeks a life of freedom, dignity, and self-sufficiency. He eventually retreats into isolation, trying to live peacefully away from society, but conflict continues to find him. 

The novel explores deep themes such as:

• Survival and human resilience
• Freedom vs. control
• Isolation and identity
• The impact of war and political systems on ordinary people