Country Lovers

by Nadine Gordimer

Genres: Short Stories

About the author

Nadine Gordimer was a South African writer, political activist, and recipient of the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature. She was recognized as a woman "who through her magnificent epic writing has – in the words of Alfred Nobel – been of very great benefit to humanity".

Gordimer's writing dealt with moral and racial issues, particularly apartheid in South Africa. Under that regime, works such as Burger's Daughter and July's People were banned. She was active in the anti-apartheid movement, joining the African National Congress during the days when the organization was banned. She was also active in HIV/AIDS causes.

Reviews

[Maitha_K_145506 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about two forbidden lovers in South Africa. The characters are Thebedi the African women that went out with a white male called Eysendy. They went out without anyone knowing but she thought about what will happen next in life and she chose to marry a guy from her tribe and had a baby too. The author made it a twisted ending that made you satisfied but made you think also. It made me learn about different people lives and how do they live. I also learned that you don't always get what you want and love. I recommend this book and hopefully you will enjoy reading it because it is interesting to read.

[Klissia]

"It was a thing of our childhood, we don't see each other any more."

Brutal em poucas palavras,conto de Nadine gordimer

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

she will be wearing those gilt hoop earrings forever

[Theodora · Rating 3 out of 5]

To say that Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer, is without effect, would be a barefaced lie. Narrating the story of the farm children, playmates, of South Africa - in particular the story of the White son of the farm owner, named Paulus Eysendyck and the Black girl, name of Thebedi, the short story depicts the difficulty of love in a country of apartheid and racism.
Country Lovers does not tell the story of one love, but a myriad, and thereby of many sorts of love. The title itself is ambiguous, radiating both a love that is and can only take place in the countryside, and a love, or a hope for love, of one's country.
Eysendyck and Thebedi cannot love their country, however they may be able to love each other in the countryside.
The love of a White boy and a Black girl is a peculiarity in the time of apartheid, which the short story describes.
The story is short of dialogue, but wanders often off to descriptions of what has been or what will come, providing a tad of internal monologue.
The writing, in itself, did not do much for me personally, but the story in its whole, is worth reading and rereading.
In my opinion, it deserves 3½ stars or a modest 4.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of forbidden interracial relationship.