The moment before the gun went off

by Nadine Gordimer

Genres: Short Stories, Historical Fiction, School, Classics

Unknown Binding

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

[María]

die zag ik toch echt even niet aankomen

[Lieke Geels · Rating 4 out of 5]

damn dat was een plottwist

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me one of the best short stories I've ever read. It reflects the (today unthinkable) righteous indignation of the white population during the riots against the apartheid regime; at the same time, however, it also shows how much the regime and time also dictated the behavior and especially emotions of the white farmers. There's so much you can read into this story, despite (or maybe also because) of the seemingly entirely racist surface of the plot!

[Rocío · Rating 1 out of 5]

Esta historia grita " all lives matter" por todos lados, la mejor prueba de que da igual haberte criado entre negros nadie puede bajar a esta señora del privilegio blanco, creo que es la primera vez que una escritora me parece tremendo circo.

[lulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this for english class. unforgettable. loved it.

[Juergen John Roscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant short-story about an Afrikaner accidentally shooting one of his black laborers during Apartheid in South Africa. Gordimer drops hints during the story of the true situation but it isn't completely understood until the final sentence. Highly recommended because of the fabulous writing and the compelling story.

[Ashley Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

shows how a man who benefits from a racist society, both socially and economically, and despite having a son who does not, he is too cowardly and too much of a follower to stand up for what is right. A great story for a discussion on white privilege.

[amby☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

read for english class

[Audrey]

I'm a short story hater, but this one had me locked in

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Understated story of ironic sorrow given deeper meaning by the situation of Apartheid. A little characterization in a simple story given gravity by an overwhelming framework of the struggle against Apartheid. The author's clear prose and objectivity in the face of horror is powerful.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine example of how history can be told in a way that doesn’t present us with cold facts but instead gives us a sense of the deeper emotional workings of it even when we haven’t lived it.

[Hannah McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with World Literature. The kids loved the plot twist at the end.