New J M Coetzee novel to Harvill Secker

Harvill Secker is publishing a new novel by Man Booker and Nobel Prize-winner J M Coetzee in September.

The Schooldays of Jesus is a sequel to Coetzee's 2013 novel The Childhood of Jesus, and follows the same characters, Simón and Inés, as they resettle in Estrella, after being forced to flee the city of Novilla following a dispute with the education authorities. There they seek to continue the schooling of the headstrong and gifted boy, Davíd.

Harvill Secker acquired UK & Commonwealth rights (excluding Australia, New Zealand and including Canada) from Anthony Goff at David Higham Associates, to publish on 29th September this year.

Coetzee's long-time editor Geoff Mulligan said: "The Schooldays of Jesus is an intriguing and wonderful novel and we are delighted to be publishing it."

Liz Foley, publishing director at Harvill Secker, said: "The Childhood of Jesus was one of my favourite books of 2013 so I am over the moon that we have this brilliant new novel following the same unforgettable characters to look forward to."

Coetzee was the first author to win the Man Booker Prize twice, having won the 1983 Booker Prize with Life & Times of Michael K (Vintage) and then again with Disgrace (Vintage) in 1999. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003.