Why be so hard on a distinguished writer?

WHEN JM Coetzee won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003, the citation from the Academy read: “He is a scrupulous doubter, ruthless in his criticism of the cruel rationalisation and cosmetic morality of western society”.

Listening to him reading from unpublished work at Listowel Writers’ Week, I was exhilarated by the brilliance of his prose style and analytical mastery.

How then could Alan O’Riordan (Irish Examiner, June 6) have written so scathingly of him? Having engaged his audience for an hour while reading from his work, Mr Coetzee took questions from the floor.

Certainly there was a degree of formality to the proceedings, questions were taken in a civil and polite manner and answered with brevity.

When one question was deemed to relate to something private he declined to answer it. Was this not his right? It certainly didn’t warrant being accused of “contemptuous reticence”.

I’m sure Mr Coetzee shies away publicity largely because of this kind of journalism.

Denise O’Sullivan

3 Rathgoggin Heights

Charleville

Co Cork