Nadine Gordimer - May 30, 2006

The ruins of the Basilica of Massenzio, whose origin dates back to the third century before Christ, has become the background for the Rome Literature Festival. In this magnificent environment, Rome offers an international choice of authors who come to read excerpts from their works with the translation of their words running along a script on the screen behind their backs.

It was here that we were entranced by the voice of Nadine Gordimer, a writer born in South African in 1923. There is a thread running through her books describing, without pathos, the lives of the dispossessed, the losers, the underdogs in a simple, calm, detached language. Listening to her voice telling the story of one of her books dated during that most terrible time prior to the second world war, during which German Jews never believed that Hitler's wrath would wreath such havoc, was an incredible experience.

Nadine Gordimer's works cover many changes in the South African scene, ranging from the early days of Apartheid injustices to the slow days of the changeover to African ( one man, one vote) Government of today. Her books, are however based on stories of people against a background of changes, their fight for survival and their courageous appeal for justice. Her language is spare, convincing and straightforward, demanding that we pause to consider what she is trying to tell us.

In an atmosphere so quiet that you could hear the proverbial pin drop, many were there in this spring night in Rome, enthralled by this charming simple lady whose literal life stretched over nearly a century. Rome has done itself well presenting a selection of writers for the Literature Festival of 2006 from all corners of the world.