The South African Civil Society Information Service

A Historic Interview: Nadine Gordimer on the 'Distorted South African Psyche'

29 Jul 2014

In this 1990 interview with Bill Moyers, the recently deceased celebrated South African writer, Nadine Gordimer, says that she was slow to develop a political understanding, but that she came to understand politics through how it affected people rather than through theory. She talks about the astonishing experience of meeting real revolutionaries in the 1960's who went to jail for their ideals, which she says, was a revelation to her coming from a "petit bourgeoisie" background. Her writing started reflecting a deeper political awareness as a consequence of this experience. Gordimer makes some rather interesting remarks about the "distorted South African" psyche.

© Bill Moyers & Company

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You can find this page online at http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/2087.