In 1997, J.M. Coetzee delivered two lectures at Princeton University in the form of short stories. These stories ended up in the novella The Lives of Animals, which now is celebrating 25 years.
In these stories, Coetzee introduced the world to the character of Elizabeth Costello, a famous Australian novelist who has reached the eff it years of her life and now lectures fellow academics on the horrors of a world that chooses to eat animals.
I cannot overstate the influence that Elizabeth Costello has had on my life and writing. And I’m happy to see that I’m not alone. The Culture & Animals Foundation recently presented an insightful celebration and exploration of The Lives of Animals. It’s worth checking out.
John is co-author, with Midge Raymond, of the eco-mystery Devils Island, forthcoming in 2024. He is also author of the novels The Tourist Trail and Where Oceans Hide Their Dead. Co-founder of Ashland Creek Press and editor of Writing for Animals (also now a writing program).
