Almost overnight, white people have gone from being very powerful to potentially irrelevant. Their future in South Africa is not what many had envisaged, so it involves a lot of reinvention. Damon Galgut africaenvisagefuture Change image and share on social
One of the questions writers bump up against in their work, whether they know it or not, is about lying. Because fiction is a form of deceit, and one's abilities are measured by how convincingly one can persuade readers that these events really happened. Damon Galgut abilitybumpconvincingly share on social
I think the impulse took shape in early childhood when I was very ill with lymphoma for a number of years. I spent a lot of time in hospitals and sick-rooms, being read to by various relatives, and I learned to associate books with love and attention. Damon Galgut associateattentionbook share on social
South Africa is highly politicised; even small issues become politicised, and it becomes quite bitter. Damon Galgut africabitterhighly Change image and share on social
I try to get going early, on the assumption that the way you begin your day is the way you continue. But certain books only want to be written at night, so there's no hard rule where work is concerned. Damon Galgut assumptionbeginbook share on social
Unrequited affection is very painful for the lover, but it can have unexpected, creative consequences. Damon Galgut affectionconsequencecreative Change image and share on social
I'm constitutionally incapable of working on planes or trains, and airports are definitely out. Damon Galgut airportconstitutionallyincapable Change image and share on social
While apartheid was in operation, the set-up was a gift for writers if you were looking for a big theme. Damon Galgut apartheidbiggift Change image and share on social
I'm fascinated by how much has changed from one generation to another. There are young people growing up now for whom apartheid is just a distant memory and the idea of military service is an abstract notion. Damon Galgut abstractapartheidchange share on social
For the first five years of my life, things felt pretty good. A lot went wrong after that, family-wise. Damon Galgut familyfeltgood Change image and share on social
