Introduction

July's People by Nadine Gordimer is a dystopian novel set in an alternate history of South Africa, where apartheid collapses due to a violent revolution. The story follows the Smales family, an upper-middle-class white family from Johannesburg, forced to flee the city. They seek refuge in the rural village of their long-time Black servant, July. As the family struggles to adjust to this new life, the established power dynamics between them and July shift, leading to growing tensions.

First published in 1981, July's People is a work of political and postcolonial fiction that delves into themes of race, power, and survival. Nadine Gordimer, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991, frequently explored the harsh realities of apartheid in her writing. In this novel, she paints a vivid picture of the uncertainty and fear surrounding the possible futures of South Africa during the 20th century.

Plot Summary

In an alternate reality, apartheid in South Africa has failed, and a black revolutionary movement has seized control, leading to a civil war. White South Africans, once dominant, now live in fear. The Smales family—Maureen, Bam, and their three children, Gina, Victor, and Royce—are an upper-middle-class white family from Johannesburg caught in the upheaval. Unable to flee the country due to the new government controlling airports and ports, they turn to July, their black servant of 15 years, for help.

July smuggles them out of Johannesburg and brings them to his rural village, with only their clothes and Bam's bird-hunting shotgun. However, July's family, particularly his wife, Martha, is uneasy about harboring white people, fearing repercussions from the village chief or other authorities. Despite this, the Smales children adapt quickly to village life, while Maureen and Bam struggle with the loss of their previous comforts.

The harsh conditions—heat, insects, and lack of electricity or clean water—starkly contrast with their former life of luxury. Though the Smales opposed apartheid, they still long for the war to end so they can return to their comfortable existence. Maureen, in particular, grows uneasy about their increasing dependence on July, noticing that he has taken liberties such as using their truck (the "bakkie") without permission and appropriating items from their Johannesburg home.

When Maureen and Bam confront July about using the bakkie, July explains that he needs it to gather supplies for the village. He subtly reminds them that without his help, they would not survive. Tensions escalate when the village chief learns of the Smales family's presence, but instead of expelling them, he seeks Bam's help in learning to shoot the shotgun to defend the village from rival black tribes. This unexpected interaction confuses the Smales family, but they are relieved they can remain in the village.

July, however, grows increasingly resentful of his role. He is caught between his obligation to the Smales family and his desire to support his own community in the revolution. When Bam's shotgun goes missing, Maureen grows suspicious, particularly of July's friend Daniel, who has disappeared. July dismisses her concerns, revealing that Daniel has left to join the fight in the city.

The simmering tensions emerge during an argument between Maureen and July. Both accuse the other of exploiting their relationship. The power dynamics have shifted, but neither side fully acknowledges the complexity of their dependence on each other.

The novel ends on an ambiguous note when Maureen, hearing the sound of a helicopter, suddenly runs toward it, crossing the river without heeding her family's calls. The open-ended conclusion leaves readers uncertain of Maureen's fate or what the helicopter symbolizes—rescue, danger, or something else entirely.