Literature
Olivia Coetzee
In the shadows
Olivia Coetzee crafts a new language to bring to life the stories of those swept aside in the transition to democracy. This haunting novel is written in taut, unsparing, unsentimental prose. It wrestles with the demons of one community overcome with the social ills of drugs, bigotry, and homophobia, where lives intersect through ruthless brutality. It will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
Olivia Coetzee was born in Mariental, Namibia and grew up in Electric City, Cape Town. She has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Cape Town. She’s written extensively for Litnet and other online platforms and has translated the Bible and fairy tales into Kaaps.