Literary · Contemporary fiction
Disgrace
David Lurie, a Cape Town professor, loses his job after an affair with a student and retreats to his daughter's farm. There, violence forces him to face a changing South Africa and his own limits.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1999
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 220
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a spare, morally difficult novel about power and post-apartheid society.
Skip this if you want a likeable protagonist or a story with a comforting resolution.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Disgrace
- What is Disgrace about?
- David Lurie, a Cape Town professor, loses his job after an affair with a student and retreats to his daughter's farm. There, violence forces him to face a changing South Africa and his own limits.
- Who should read Disgrace?
- Read it if you want a spare, morally difficult novel about power and post-apartheid society. Skip it if you want a likeable protagonist or a story with a comforting resolution.
- How long and how fast is Disgrace?
- It is a slow-paced, short read of about 220 pages, first published in 1999.
- Does Disgrace have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Sexual assault, Violence, Racism, Animal death.
- Can I borrow Disgrace for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Disgrace; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
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| Ebook | ||
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| Audiobook | ||
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