Oak Tree Fine Press

Volume I

J.M. Coetzee

Life and Times of Michael K

"The first thing the midwife noticed about Michael K when she helped him out of his mother into the world was that he had a hare lip. The lip curled like a snail's foot, the left nostril gaped. Obscuring the child for a moment from its mother, she prodded open the tiny bud of a mouth and was thankful to find the palate whole."

So begins the novel Life and Times of Michael K, a frightening vision of a post apocalyptic South Africa, which was the first of J M Coetzee’s novels to win the Booker Prize in 1983. Each numbered book is individually signed by the author and features specially commissioned original artwork by South African artist, Colbert Mashile. The deluxe editions of each volume include an original artist’s print inspired by Life & Times of Michael K .

Life and Times of Michael K marked the beginning of a series which now includes numerous Booker Prize winners, as well as artwork by highly successful artists.

Colbert Mashile’s work for Life and Times

“There is a suitably alienated Kafkaesque quality to Mashile’s linocuts which recall Coetzee’s words: “No papers, no money; no family, no friends, no sense of who you are. The obscurest of the obscure, so obscure as to be a prodigy.” And indeed Mashile might be just that rare thing.” says Alex Dodd about Colbert Mashile in her Business Day Column on 20 March 2006. Read Article...

The First Chapter Series

The First Chapter Series® of Booker Prize-winning novels is available to buy as a deluxe set, limited to 150 copies. Each set contains individually numbered copies of all the volumes published to date, signed by the author to the title page and hand bound in cloth. Each comes with signed artwork* which is enclosed with the book in a matching hand made slip case and cassette.

*with the exception of Volume V, for which artwork must be purchased separately

Set of eight books: ₤1150
Order the deluxe set

Single deluxe volume

Each deluxe volume of the First Chapter Series contains the individually numbered book signed by the author and hand bound in cloth. This is presented together with signed artwork in a matching hand made slip case and cassette.

Price: ₤175
Order deluxe volume

Single standard volume

We currently hold a number of copies of this book which are available to purchase singly. Each volume is hand bound in cloth and signed by the author to the title page. Separate signed artwork is not included.

Price: ₤75
Purchase single volume

Slipcase

A handmade matching slipcase can be ordered for your single volume.

Price: ₤25
Order slipcase

 

Looking for a First Edition of Life And Times Of Michael K?

First editions of this and other books by J.M. Coetzee can be found in our online books store

 

 

 

The Thusong Children’s Centre

This series has been developed to raise money for the support and treatment of children living with HIV /AIDS in Southern Africa and accordingly all proceeds from the sale of this first volume will go to the Thusong Children’s Centre in Kimberley,South Africa.

The Thusong Children’s Centre was established in 1994 as a shelter for abandoned and abused children living on the streets. Since its inception, more than 300 children have been placed back into society equipped with the social and economic tools to have a fair chance at creating lives for themselves. There are currently more than 150 children housed in the shelter.

Links

Review of the First Chapter Series®

http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/TarkArticle.aspx?ID=2067006

Colbert Mashile at David Krut Gallery

http://www.davidkrutpublishing.com/dkp/category/latest/art-gallery/

ARTTHROB Contemporary art in South Africa

http://www.artthrob.co.za/06may/artbio.html

Thusong Children’s Centre

http://www.bdb.co.za/shackle/articles/rebecca.htm