The unnamed narrator, a young South African man in his 20s who moves to London after graduating from the University of Cape Town with degrees in mathematics and English. He takes a job as a computer programmer to support himself while pursuing his dream of becoming a poet.

Monica Vitti, an Italian actress the narrator becomes infatuated with, seeking refuge in her films from his unfulfilling life and work.

The various women the narrator has affairs with in London, none of whom inspire the passion he believes he needs to produce great poetry.

"Youth" is a semi-autobiographical novel by South African author J.M. Coetzee, recounting his struggles in 1960s London after fleeing the political unrest of Cape Town. The story begins with the narrator, a young Coetzee, living in Mowbray and studying at the University of Cape Town. After graduating in mathematics and English, and in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre, he moves to London in the hope of becoming a poet and finding the woman of his dreams. However, he finds neither inspiration nor fulfillment, instead taking up a tedious job as a computer programmer working for IBM. He feels alienated from the natives and never settles down, always aware of the scorn they see him with. He engages in a series of unfulfilling affairs and scorns people's inability to see his inner "flame" that he believes would allow his artistry to flourish. By the end of the book, he is working for International Computers on the Atlas project.

Becoming a Writer
"Youth" is Coetzee's exploration of what it means to want to be a writer. The narrator engages in a series of affairs and takes up a tedious job as a computer programmer, but feels alienated and unable to write. The book depicts his growth into an artist of words amid self-doubt and setbacks.

Isolation and Alienation
Set against the backdrop of 1960s events like the Sharpeville massacre and the Cuban Missile Crisis, the novel portrays the narrator's isolation and sense of being an outsider in London. As an awkward colonial, he struggles to find his place in the world.

Love and Relationships
The narrator's search for passionate love and its power to inspire his artistry is a central theme. He interacts with beautiful foreign girls in London but is unable to connect with them, feeling resistance from English girls in particular.

Themes of Art and Poetry
Coetzee explores the art of writing and the narrator's analysis of authors like Ezra Pound, Samuel Beckett, and T.S. Eliot. The narrator carries poetry books with him as a test to find an exceptional girl who appreciates his spirit.

Overall, "Youth" is a coming-of-age story that delves into the struggles of a young man trying to find his voice as a writer while navigating love, relationships, and his place in the world.