In the following interview, Gordimer discusses her political affiliations and views as well as her more recent works.

[Karen Lazar:] Nadine, I have some questions to ask you about your involvements as a citizen during the 80s and early 90s, and then a few questions about your more recent work.

In the early 80s, what stirred you to become more deeply involved in political organisations? Which groups were you specifically involved in? I know about ACAG (Anti-Censorship Action Group), but wondered about your other organisational commitments at that time ?

[Nadine Gordimer:] What spurred me was a new opportunity to be involved. In the 70s, we had the separatist movement, Black Consciousness, which I understood and sympathised with. There were some whites who were hurt or incensed by it. Even the writers' organisation, PEN, at that time black-led (under the leadership of Mothobi Mutloase but with a non-racial...