Nadine Gordimer was a South African writer and political activist. She was born on 20 November 1923 and passed away on 13 July 2014. Gordimer was a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991, recognized as a writer "who through her magnificent epic writing has been of very great benefit to humanity."

Gordimer stands as one of the most honored female writers of her generation. She won the Booker Prize for The Conservationist (1974), and the Central News Agency Literary Award for The Conservationist, Burger's Daughter (1979), and July's People (1981).

Her writing extensively dealt with moral and racial issues, particularly addressing apartheid in South Africa. Under the apartheid regime, several of her works, such as Burger's Daughter, were banned. Gordimer was actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement, joining the African National Congress during the times when the organization was banned. She notably provided advice to Nelson Mandela on his famous 1964 defense speech at the trial leading to his life conviction. Later in her life, she also became active in HIV/AIDS causes.