Retelling a classic story in your own style is a classic way of learning how te become a Great Writer. J.M. Coetzee has nothing left to prove in that area, with a Nobel prize and two Booker in his prize cabinet. Still, Coetzee rewrote the well known Crusoe story (after winning his 1st Booker prize) resulting in the novel ‘Foe’. Why? One suggestion (backed by many reviewers craving for a political message) is that Coetzee used the story as an analogy for the situation in his home country South Africa at the time. Another explanation could be that this is Coetzee’s exercise in modesty. By accounts of friends, fellow writers (like Dorfman ) and (scarce) interview Coetzee comes accross as a modest man, humble almost. Retelling the story of Crusoe might just be his way of reminding himself of that he was not a Great Writer yet, even if he had already won the Booker Prize. It’s hard to improve on a classic story, and you need at least an original mind and an abundance of stylistic refinement to succeed, two qualities that Coetzee possesses.