A Walk in the Night and Other Stories

In the title story of this edition is an excellent example of African penmanship. La Guma captures the surroundings of the story like a fish on a hook and then hands the pole to the reader to reel it in. The story takes place in a South African ghetto devastated by the malevolent European presence. While being tragic the story does not seek pity at all. The story unfolds rapidly and with precise visual detail that allows its 92 pages to be read EASILY in one sitting. The work has been portrayed as hopeless by some of its audience, and it is this I feel that proves the importance of such a great piece of literature. The story does not have a happy ending to console the reader because at the time it was created and published no happy ending had occurred. La Guma wishes to show us the inhumanity that goes on unnoticed by the majority of the world and sometimes merely disregarded on the basis of skin color. People seeing hopelessness in "A Walk in the Night" are hopeless people who would rather be lied to than educated on the True Reality that surrounds them. Why? perhaps it is laziness, change will never come if we are never informed of the truth that humane change relies on. La Guma has done nothing but taken a picture of a group of people oppressed in their own land by foreigners on the basis of skin color, there is nothing happy about this situation. When looking at the photographs of Dorthea Lange do we feel cheated that we don't see a sequel picture beside the tragic one to give us the idea that everything is OK and that we need not exert ourselves to bring about change? I hope not. "A Walk in the Night" is an exciting read that inspires thought. Highly recommended to, quite honestly, anyone. I would not be surprised if a film will one day emerge from this lush portrait.

The effects of unjust and inhumane society are internalized by La Guma's characters. Alone they are predetermined by fate to fall from grace- as a result of tenement life, working conditions and being so far seperated from hope of recovery for so long. This might only be a cynical lament for the underdog. But La Guma's account is striking because it subtly documents the gathering strength of the discontent of the neglected masses. Indeed, La Guma's main subject matter is the overwhelming strength of the oppressed that cannot remain bound. A solid insider appraisal of the roots of a people's triumph over illegitimate, abused power

La Guma's short stories give an excellent feel for the struggle with biraciality in South Africa- the imagery is so clear that you can almost see what the characters see and feel what the characters feel.