A Walk in the Night

In this previously banned collection of seven short stories, Alex La Guma vividly reveals the plight of the poor and oppressed in apartheid South Africa.

'The pub, like pubs all over the world, was a place for debate and discussion... Where the disillusioned gained temporary hope, where acts of kindness were considered and murders planned.'

The title story, 'A Walk in the Night', introduces the figure of Michael Adonis, a factory worker who loses his job after an argument with a white supervisor. Adonis's subsequent descent into helpless rage is played out in rich detail, illuminating the toxic effects of poverty, police brutality, and gang violence.

Characterised by his striking style and colourful dialogue, La Guma's stories explore experiences of racism and social inequality in various settings, from an overcrowded prison to a Portuguese restaurant.

Each story lays bare the struggles of those living in 1960s South Africa, offering poignant moments of hope and cementing Alex La Guma as one of the most important writers of his time.

'The greatest South African novelist of the 20th century.' The Times
'A Walk in the Night ... achieved in 90 pages what other African writers had tried to achieve in the course of many years.' Wole Soyinka
'His spirit of hope lives on in the books he left us. He is a central figure alongside Chinua Achebe [in] the making and consolidation of modern African literature.' Ngugi wa Thiong'o