Date of Birth: February 9, 1940
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Biography
John Maxwell Coetzee, better known as J. M. Coetzee, is a renowned South African-born writer, essayist, linguist, and translator. He was born on February 9, 1940, in Cape Town, South Africa. Coetzee is known for his deeply introspective and often bleak novels that explore themes of apartheid, colonialism, and the human condition. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003. Coetzee spent his early years in South Africa, where he received his education before moving to the United Kingdom for further studies. He earned his B.A. in English and Mathematics from the University of Cape Town and later pursued an M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Texas at Austin. His academic background significantly influenced his literary works. His first novel, “Dusklands,” was published in 1974, and he gained international recognition with subsequent works such as “Waiting for the Barbarians,” “Life & Times of Michael K,” and “Disgrace.” The latter won the Booker Prize in 1999, making Coetzee the first author to win the prestigious award twice. In addition to his novels, Coetzee has written several collections of essays and autobiographical works. He moved to Australia in 2002 and became an Australian citizen in 2006, where he continues to write and contribute to the literary world.
5 Interesting Facts about J. M. Coetzee
1. J. M. Coetzee is the first author to win the Booker Prize twice, first in 1983 for “Life & Times of Michael K” and again in 1999 for “Disgrace.”
2. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003, recognized for his “well-crafted composition, pregnant dialogue, and analytical brilliance.”
3. Coetzee is a vegetarian and an advocate for animal rights, themes that are often reflected in his works.
4. He emigrated to Australia in 2002 and became an Australian citizen in 2006.
5. Coetzee has taught at various universities around the world, including the University of Cape Town and the University of Chicago.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from J. M. Coetzee
1. “One is never too old to yearn.”
2. “The secret of happiness is not to do what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do.”
3. “The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and write, but he must by no means live and write for the purpose of making money.”
4. “If there were a better, clearer, shorter way of saying what the fiction says, then why not scrap the fiction?”
5. “I am not the we of anyone.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by J. M. Coetzee is estimated to be around $2 million.
Children
J. M. Coetzee has two children, Nicolas Coetzee and Gisela Coetzee.
Relevant Links
2. [J. M. Coetzee – Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-M-Coetzee
3. [J. M. Coetzee – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0171162/
4. [J. M. Coetzee – The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/jm-coetzee
5. [J. M. Coetzee – Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4127.J_M_Coetzee
