Judy Croome: Author on the Prowl

Published by Modjaji Books, the prestigious South African publisher specialising in women’s writing, RUNNING & OTHER STORIES adds a commanding new voice to the South African literary scene.

From the double re-framing of Can Themba’s iconic short story “The Suit” with subtle gender issues, to writing in the still-hopeful voice of a thirteen year-old orphaned girl when there is no hope (“Prayers”); from the despairing voice of a young woman betrayed by those she most trusted in a story redolent with political symbolism (“Running”) to showing the lonely price a woman accumulating a list of first successes must pay (“The Trip”), the stories in this collection explore the many challenges women who have been doubly oppressed (race and gender) must face in making their voices heard and their life experiences meaningful.

With a strong local flavour, this rich collection of short stories is exquisitely well-written and will appeal not only to South African readers but also to any international reader who has an interest in “learning about the country that produced" four Nobel Peace Prize Laureates(namely, Former Presidents F.W de Klerk - 1993; Former President Nelson Mandela - 1993; Archbishop Desmond Tutu - 1984; and Mr Albert Luthuli - 1960.)