In 'Burger's Daughter,' the story follows the life of Rosa Burger, the daughter of a renowned anti-apartheid activist, as she navigates her identity in a racially divided South Africa. With her father's legacy looming over her, Rosa grapples with the weight of expectation and her own turbulent emotions. The novel delves deep into themes of love, betrayal, and the quest for self-understanding amidst political turmoil. As Rosa turns her back on activism, her journey reveals the personal struggles that sit at the intersection of public duty and private desire. Will she find her own voice, or will the shadows of her parents' past define her future?
By Nadine Gordimer
Published: 1980
""The burden of being free is one that weighs heavier than chains.""
"A riveting history of South Africa and a penetrating portrait of a courageous woman." -- The New Yorker A must read fiction of South Africa from the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature This is the moving story of the unforgettable Rosa Burger, a young woman from South Africa cast in the mold of a revolutionary tradition. Rosa tries to uphold her heritage handed on by martyred parents while still carving out a sense of self. Although it is wholly of today, Burger's Daughter can be compared to those 19th century Russian classics that make a certain time and place come alive, and yet stand as universal celebrations of the human spirit. Nadine Gordimer, winner of the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature, was born and lives in South Africa.
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“"The burden of being free is one that weighs heavier than chains."”
Burger's Daughter
By Nadine Gordimer
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Nadine Gordimer was a distinguished South African writer and political activist, known for her profound literary contributions that explore the complexities of life under apartheid. Born on November 20, 1923, in Springs, a small mining town near Johannesburg, Gordimer's works often illuminate the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals in a divided society. Her notable works include the Nobel Prize-winning 'Burger's Daughter,' 'July's People,' and 'The Conservationist,' each marked by incisive social commentary and a deep empathy for the characters she portrayed. Gordimer's writing style is characterized by rich, evocative prose and a nuanced understanding of human relationships in the context of historical and political struggles. A powerful voice for freedom and justice, Gordimer's legacy continues to inspire readers and writers around the world.
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