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Nadine Gordimer

Biography

Nadine Gordimer was a prominent South African novelist and short-story writer, born on November 20, 1923, in Springs, South Africa, and passing away on July 13, 2014, in Johannesburg. She was known for her exploration of the themes of exile and alienation and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991. Gordimer hailed from a privileged white middle-class background and displayed a passion for reading and writing from a young age. She began publishing her stories in magazines at the age of 15. Her early exposure to literature from beyond the confines of apartheid, the policy of racial segregation in South Africa, fueled her growing opposition to apartheid. While not a top scholar, she briefly attended the University of the Witwatersrand. In addition to her writing, she lectured and taught at various U.S. schools during the 1960s and ’70s. Her literary career commenced with “Face to Face” (1949), a collection of short stories, and “The Lying Days” (1953), her first novel. These works reflected her distinctive style characterized by clarity, control, and a lack of sentimentality. Her stories delved into the profound impact of apartheid on the lives of South Africans, portraying the tension between personal isolation and the commitment to social justice, the emotional toll of apartheid, and the resistance against it. In 1974, Gordimer’s novel “The Conservationist” was a co-recipient of the Booker Prize. She continued to produce notable novels like “Burger’s Daughter” (1979), “July’s People” (1981), “A Sport of Nature” (1987), “My Son’s Story” (1990), “The House Gun” (1998), “The Pickup” (2001), and “No Time like the Present” (2012), which examined the challenges faced by post-apartheid South Africa. Gordimer also authored several collections of short stories, such as “A Soldier’s Embrace” (1980), “Crimes of Conscience” (1991), and “Loot, and Other Stories” (2003). She ventured into essays, correspondence, and reminiscences with “Living in Hope and History: Notes from Our Century” (1999). In recognition of her contributions, she received the French Legion of Honour in 2007.

News / Ranking / Titbits / Awards

W H Smith Commonwealth Literary Award for Friday’s Footprint in 1961. James Tait Black Memorial Prize for A Guest of Honour in 1972. In 1974 her novel The Conservationist was a joint winner of the Booker Prize. Central News Agency Literary Award for The Conservationist in 1974. Grand Aigle d’Or (France) in 1975. – Central News Agency Literary Award for Burger’s Daughter in 1979 and July’s People in 1981. – Scottish Arts Council Neil M Gunn Fellowship 1981. -Modern Language Association Honorary Fellow 1984. Rome Prize 1984. – Premio Malaparte Italy in 1985. Nelly Sachs (Germany) Prize 1985. – Bennett Award (US) in 1987. Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for A sport of nature in 1988. – Central News Agency Literary Award for My son’s story in 1990. – Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991. Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for the best book from Africa in 2002. – Officer of the Legion of Honours in 2007. – Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 2009.

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Nadine Gordimer

Biography

News / Ranking / Titbits / Awards

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