Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Nadine Gordimer: evergreen, ageless and an inspiration to all writers

The only thing small about Nadine Gordimer was her size. Her huge literary presence will be missed

Nadine Gordimer: evergreen, ageless and an inspiration to all writers
Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer in Johannesburg in 2011. Photograph: Gallo Images/REX

Nadine Gordimer has died. It seems impossible – surely she was ageless, like one of those very old, tiny, trees in the Arctic, gnarled and tough as a nut, but nonetheless evergreen. Despite her minute size, she was a huge presence – a voice of rectitude that spoke above the political din, addressing itself to our common humanity.

She was an inspiration to all writers facing seemingly insurmountable odds within their own societies or facing a choice between risky truth-telling and personal comfort. It's difficult to imagine the history of the South African novel, indeed of the 20th-century political novel, without her.
More


• A life in pictures
• A life in quotes
• Obituary: Nadine Gordimer, 1923-2014
• Five must-read books


BBC

And at The Bookseller:  Liz Calder pays tribute to 'indomitable' Gordimer

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