Nadine Gordimer Edits Story Collection to Benefit AIDS Charity

In the early '80s, when the news of AIDS first started to disseminate and stigmatization and misinformation were rampant, some of the first to work towards raising funds and awareness about the syndrome were actors. And actors, along with musicians, have continued their fundraising and education efforts ever since. Nadine Gordimer, Pulitzer- and Nobel Prize-winning author, noted this and saw that while writers individually had given their time and contributions to the cause, they hadn't combined forces. She decided to change that: Gordimer has organized and edited Telling Tales, an anthology of 20 writers -- including Chinua Achebe, John Updike, Margaret Atwood, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Gunter Grass, Arthur Miller, and Njabulo Ndebele -- which will be published by Picador on December 1. Profits will benefit HIV/AIDS organizations in southern Africa.

Gordimer recently talked with BTW by phone from her home in Johannesburg.

The idea for the literary fundraiser came to Gordimer a little over a year ago. "Many jazz and pop and quite a lot of classical musicians were having these wonderful concerts, which were in aid of HIV/AIDS causes, while at the same time, were bringing awareness to people about this pandemic plague that, unfortunately, we are facing," she explained. "And I thought to myself, 'Well, this is wonderful, but what have writers done collectively? Collectively, we haven't done anything.'"

Author Nadine Gordimer Photo credit: Jerry Bauer

In response, the 81-year-old writer began the project that would become Telling Tales, a collection that includes five Nobel Prize winners in literature. Brainstorming about the best way to harness the synergy of writers, she wondered, "What about collecting an anthology of really beautiful stories by some of the best short story writers in the world?" Not only would she ask them to contribute, but would also ask if they would give one of their stories "without any profits or royalties."

Gordimer said that after developing her plan, she "boldly wrote off to 20 writers, some of whom are my good friends, and others I just happened to admire very much."

She considered only authors of short stories. "There are many writers who write short stories and novels, but there are many novelists who don't write short stories," she explained. "Even though one might admire [novelists'] work tremendously, I didn't think that excerpts would work very well. To choose a piece out of your novel is really, really difficult."

The reaction from the authors was unanimous excitement. "I got the most enthusiastic response from all 20," said Gordimer. "They said they were really looking for some way to put their talents to work in favor of the cause. Then the stories arrived and I couldn't have been more delighted with the variety."

As far as guidelines for submitting a story, Gordimer told the contributors, "I don't want you to write anything new and I don't want you to write anything about HIV/AIDS. It's not meant to inform people about the disease. There are, fortunately, many absolutely essential tracts and books explaining what the disease is and how it is caused."

Gordimer said she was looking to create a book that showcased the stories themselves. "I wanted it, quite frankly, to be a very entertaining book and not a disturbing book in terms of its content," she said.

After gathering the contributors, the next step was to convince publishers to participate. Gordimer told BTW, "I spoke first, because I happened to be going to New York, to my publishers Farrar, Straus, and Giroux and their paperback partner Picador." She had just as generous a response from the publishers as from the writers. "They immediately said they would produce the books for production costs only. All royalties and profits would go to whatever cause I chose."

Gordimer's English publisher, Bloomsbury, also responded with generosity. "To cut a long happy story short, I now have 11 publishers worldwide for this book, which is, of course, more than one could ever have dreamed. I've had wonderful support with this book. It's not really my book. It's our book. The writers' book and the publishers' book. We've done it all together."

When selecting the charity, Gordimer said of course she had to make her decision very carefully. She wanted the donations to be used as effectively as possible. She decided on the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), an independent, non-profit organization whose funds are used entirely for the treatment and support of people suffering from HIV and AIDS, and for the prevention of the disease, throughout southern Africa. She said that she's known about TAC for years and was "greatly impressed" by what they've achieved.

Though many populations all over the world are experiencing AIDS crises, Gordimer concentrated on southern Africa because, she said, "The fact is, the African continent and, in particular the southern region, is the most highly infected in the world."

The launch of the book will be at the United Nations on November 30. Attendees will include Gordimer, Arthur Miller, Salman Rushdie, and Secretary General Kofi Annan. Additional events will take place the following day, December 1, World AIDS Day, at Symphony Space in Manhattan.

"It really is such a wonderful thing to read," said Gordimer about Telling Tales. "There's so much that's enjoyable in it. And when people buy it there's the bonus that for the very ordinary price that they'll pay for the book, that money is going to benefit people who are indeed suffering from and living with AIDS. It's a kind of joyful and pleasant way of helping others." --Karen Schechner