"The Conservationist" is a novel by Nadine Gordimer that explores issues of race, class, and identity in apartheid-era South Africa. The story centers around Mehring, a wealthy white businessman who owns a farm in the countryside. Despite his material success, Mehring feels disconnected from his surroundings and struggles to find meaning and purpose in his life. When he discovers a dead body on his property, Mehring becomes obsessed with solving the mystery and understanding the circumstances that led to the man's death. Along the way, he confronts the harsh realities of life under apartheid, including the exploitation of black labor and the environmental destruction caused by industrialization. Through Mehring's journey, Gordimer examines the complex interplay between race, power, and privilege in South Africa, and raises questions about the legacy of colonialism and the possibility of meaningful change. "The Conservationist" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that offers a searing critique of apartheid-era society, and a compelling portrait of a man grappling with his own sense of identity and place in the world.
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