Plot Summary

Burger's Daughter

Nadine Gordimer
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Burger's Daughter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979

Book Brief

Nadine Gordimer

Burger's Daughter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979
Book Details
Pages

368

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

South Africa • 1970s

Publication Year

1979

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1140L

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Super Short Summary

Burger’s Daughter by Nadine Gordimer follows Rosa, the white daughter of renowned anti-apartheid activist Lionel Burger, as she grapples with her legacy and identity in South Africa during apartheid. Rosa reflects on her father's imprisonment and death, navigates relationships with comrades and family, and ultimately faces her own political activism and imprisonment.

Contemplative

Gritty

Melancholic

Challenging

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

3.6

2,350 ratings

53%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

17%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Nadine Gordimer's Burger's Daughter offers profound insights into South Africa's apartheid era, blending rich historical context with complex character development. Reviews praise its emotional depth and Gordimer's lyrical prose. However, some note the narrative's dense structure can challenge readers. Overall, it's a critically acclaimed, though demanding, read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Burger's Daughter?

A reader who would enjoy Burger's Daughter by Nadine Gordimer is likely engaged with political and social themes, especially those related to apartheid and resistance in South Africa. Fans of Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee or Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will appreciate Gordimer's powerful prose and deep exploration of identity and activism.

3.6

2,350 ratings

53%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

17%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

Burger's Daughter was banned in South Africa shortly after its publication in 1979, as the apartheid regime saw it as a threat due to its political themes.

Nadine Gordimer received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991, and Burger's Daughter is often highlighted as one of her seminal works that contributed to her acclaim.

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The novel was inspired by the real-life story of Bram Fischer, an anti-apartheid lawyer, and explores the impact of political activism on personal lives.

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Book Details
Pages

368

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

South Africa • 1970s

Publication Year

1979

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1140L

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