51 pages • 1 hour read
J. M. CoetzeeFoe
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1986A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Foe by J. M. Coetzee is a reimagining of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe from the perspective of Susan Barton, a shipwrecked woman who joins Cruso and an African man named Friday on an isolated island. After their eventual rescue and Cruso's death, Susan seeks out the writer Foe to chronicle her story and struggles with his narrative choices, grappling with themes of voice and authorship. The book discusses racism, enslavement, and sexual relationships.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Foe by J. M. Coetzee is hailed for its inventive retelling of Robinson Crusoe's story, appreciated for its thought-provoking exploration of language, power, and identity. Critics praise Coetzee's prose and complex characters but some find the narrative's ambiguity and metafictional elements challenging. Overall, it offers a compelling yet demanding read.
Who Should Read Foe?
A reader who would enjoy Foe by J. M. Coetzee is likely interested in postcolonial literature, metafiction, and complex narratives. Comparable to readers of Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and Life of Pi by Yann Martel, they appreciate layered storytelling and explorations of identity and authorship.