JM Coetzee in demand
2003-10-14 13:20
Cape Town - Bookshops are struggling to keep up with the demand for JM Coetzee's books, South Africa's latest Nobel prize winner.
Coetzee was named the winner of the prestigious award on
October 2, following in the footsteps of anti-apartheid activist Nadine Gordimer, who won the Nobel prize for literature in 1991.
A spokesperson for a bookshop in Cape Town specialising in Africana and rare books, says the price of a signed copy of a first edition of Coetzee's earlier works has increased to about R25 000.
Fernando de Abreu of Exclusive Books, Canal Walk says the sale of Coetzee's books has definitely increased since he won the Nobel prize.
"People are especially asking for the books which won him the Booker Prize... The life of Michael K and Disgrace.
"Many people think he won the Nobel prize just for these two books and not for all his work."
De Abreu says the book Youth, a sequel to Coetzee's memoires Boyhood: Scenes from provincial life, is also selling well.
Lorna Okkers of CNA's book division at the V&A Waterfront says buyers are asking for Coetzee's latest book Elizabeth Costello.
Nearly three-quarters of their stock of this book - which appeared on the shelves for the first time three weeks ago - have been sold out.
"Coetzee's books usually sell well, especially to tourists, but more people are making enquiries."
She says Waiting for the barbarians is also popular. This book will be performed as an opera in the German city Erfurt in 2005.