July's People is a 1981 novel by the South African writer Nadine Gordimer. It is set in a near-future version of South Africa where apartheid is ended through a civil war.[1] Gordimer wrote the book before the end of apartheid as her prediction of how it would end. The book was banned in South Africa after its publication, and later under the post-apartheid government.[2]
The novel is set during a fictional civil war in which black South Africans have violently overturned the system of apartheid.[3] The story follows the Smales, a liberalWhite South African family who were forced to flee Johannesburg to the native village of their black servant, July. Maureen tries working with the women in the fields, digging up leaves and roots. Afterwards, she goes to see July, who is working on the bakkie.
When July says she should not work with the women, she asks if he fears she will tell his wife about Ellen. He angrily asserts that she can only tell Martha that he has always been a good servant. Maureen, frightened, realizes that the dignity she thought she had always conferred upon him was actually humiliating to him. He informs her that he and the Smales have been summoned to the chief's village. Though July has authority in his village, they still must ask the chief's permission to stay. Maureen struggles with her new subservience to July.
After Gina goes to play with Nyiko and Bam goes with Victor and Royce to fish, a helicopter with unidentifiable markings flies over the village.
Reception
Anne Tyler, writing for The New York Times, praised the novel, saying that Gordimer "has outdone herself" and that the work was "So flawlessly written that every one of its events seems chillingly, ominously possible".[3] In his book Frantz Fanon and the Future of Cultural Politics: Finding Something Different, Anthony C. Alessandrini referred to Tyler's take on the novel as "maddening" given that the "events" she describes result in the fall of apartheid.[4]
Controversy
July's People was temporarily banned from schools in Gauteng Province, in South Africa, for a brief period in 2001.[5] The government of Gauteng Province provided the following reason for the ban:
The subject matter is questionable ... the language that is used is not acceptable, as it does not encourage good grammatical practices ... the reader is bombarded with nuances that do not achieve much ... any condemnation of racism is difficult to discover - so the story comes across as being deeply racist, superior and patronising.[5]
The book was banned alongside other books, including several Shakespeare plays, among them Julius Caesar and Othello.
References
^Erritouni, Ali (Winter 2006). "Apartheid Inequality and Postapartheid Utopia in Nadine Gordimer's "July's People"". Research in African Literatures. 37 (4): 68–84.
^"South Africa reinstates authors". BBC News. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
^Alessandrini, Anthony (2014). Frantz Fanon and the Future of Cultural Politics: Finding Something Different. Lexington Books, 90.
^ abCartwright, Justin (19 April 2001). "Stranger than fiction". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
March 27, 2023
july, people, 1981, novel, south, african, writer, nadine, gordimer, near, future, version, south, africa, where, apartheid, ended, through, civil, gordimer, wrote, book, before, apartheid, prediction, would, book, banned, south, africa, after, publication, la. July s People is a 1981 novel by the South African writer Nadine Gordimer It is set in a near future version of South Africa where apartheid is ended through a civil war 1 Gordimer wrote the book before the end of apartheid as her prediction of how it would end The book was banned in South Africa after its publication and later under the post apartheid government 2 July s PeopleFirst edition cover RSA AuthorNadine GordimerCountrySouth AfricaLanguageEnglishGenreAlternate historyPublisherRaven Taurus RSA Jonathan Cape UK Viking Press US Publication date1981Published in English1981Media typePrint Hardback amp Paperback Pages195ISBN9780747578383 Contents 1 Plot 2 Reception 2 1 Controversy 3 ReferencesPlot EditThe novel is set during a fictional civil war in which black South Africans have violently overturned the system of apartheid 3 The story follows the Smales a liberal White South African family who were forced to flee Johannesburg to the native village of their black servant July Maureen tries working with the women in the fields digging up leaves and roots Afterwards she goes to see July who is working on the bakkie When July says she should not work with the women she asks if he fears she will tell his wife about Ellen He angrily asserts that she can only tell Martha that he has always been a good servant Maureen frightened realizes that the dignity she thought she had always conferred upon him was actually humiliating to him He informs her that he and the Smales have been summoned to the chief s village Though July has authority in his village they still must ask the chief s permission to stay Maureen struggles with her new subservience to July After Gina goes to play with Nyiko and Bam goes with Victor and Royce to fish a helicopter with unidentifiable markings flies over the village Reception EditAnne Tyler writing for The New York Times praised the novel saying that Gordimer has outdone herself and that the work was So flawlessly written that every one of its events seems chillingly ominously possible 3 In his book Frantz Fanon and the Future of Cultural Politics Finding Something Different Anthony C Alessandrini referred to Tyler s take on the novel as maddening given that the events she describes result in the fall of apartheid 4 Controversy Edit July s People was temporarily banned from schools in Gauteng Province in South Africa for a brief period in 2001 5 The government of Gauteng Province provided the following reason for the ban The subject matter is questionable the language that is used is not acceptable as it does not encourage good grammatical practices the reader is bombarded with nuances that do not achieve much any condemnation of racism is difficult to discover so the story comes across as being deeply racist superior and patronising 5 The book was banned alongside other books including several Shakespeare plays among them Julius Caesar and Othello References Edit Erritouni Ali Winter 2006 Apartheid Inequality and Postapartheid Utopia in Nadine Gordimer s July s People Research in African Literatures 37 4 68 84 South Africa reinstates authors BBC News 22 April 2001 Retrieved 10 June 2009 a b Tyler Anne 7 June 1981 South Africa after Revolution The New York Times Retrieved 17 May 2015 Alessandrini Anthony 2014 Frantz Fanon and the Future of Cultural Politics Finding Something Different Lexington Books 90 a b Cartwright Justin 19 April 2001 Stranger than fiction The Guardian Retrieved 17 October 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title July 27s People amp oldid 1135056903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
