I say that I represent this movement because my intellectual allegiances are clearly European, not African. J. M. Coetzee africanallegianceeuropean Change image and share on social
I tend to resist invitations to interpret my own fiction. J. M. Coetzee fictioninterpretinvitation Change image and share on social
Strictly speaking, my interest is not in legal rights for animals but in a change of heart towards animals. J. M. Coetzee animalchangeheart Change image and share on social
That has always seemed to me one of the stranger aspects of literary fame: you prove your competence as a writer and an inventor of stories, and then people clamour for you to make speeches and tell them what you think about the world. J. M. Coetzee aspectclamourcompetence share on social
If it is indeed impossible - or at least very difficult - to inhabit the consciousness of an animal, then in writing about animals there is a temptation to project upon them feelings and thoughts that may belong only to our own human mind and heart. J. M. Coetzee animalbelongconsciousness share on social
All autobiography is storytelling; all writing is autobiography. J. M. Coetzee autobiographystorytellingwrite Change image and share on social
The writers who have the deepest influence on one are those one reads in ones more impressionable, early life, and often it is the more youthful works of those writers that leave the deepest imprint. J. M. Coetzee deepearlyimpressionable Change image and share on social
The idea of writer as sage is pretty much dead today. I would certainly feel very uncomfortable in the role. J. M. Coetzee deadfeelidea Change image and share on social