This is an excellent book. We are travelling to South Africa next year and this book gives an excellent view of the times.

I can't believe I'd never heard of this book before I received the list of books my church ladies book group was going to cover this year. I could not put this book down. It is the story of two elderly South African men, one black and one white, who had never met until the lives of their only sons tragically intersect. The two men find, not only that their sons were not the sons of their youth but vastly different, indeed their fathers truly had no idea what kind of men they had become.

As they try to come to know and understand the men their sons had become, two fathers learn and grow, themselves becoming new men in the process.
I highly recommend this book - I only wish I'd known about it sooner!

Oh, and I'm so glad that I did not know it was an Oprah's book club pick because, sad but true, that would have turned me off of it before I even opened the cover!

How much can a man love his country? How much can he love his son? His God? Can justice prevail when man cannot? What is forgiveness? Redemption? Grace? To consider all these elements in one novel is not possible. Or is it?

"Cry, the Beloved Country" is all these things and more. It is forgiveness writ large. It is agape love in the doing. It is the story of two fathers, each with a son. One son is the victim of apartheid and is lost. The other is also a victim of apartheid but of the other side. He seeks to find a way to make things better, to make things right. The lost one kills the seeking one. One is African, the other is Afrikaaner, and therein lies the difference and the ultimate. This difference, this ultimate, this absolute are what drove Alan Paton in the writing of South Africa's most famous, most searing novel of the separation of races in all ways.

Absalom Kumalo's life is limited in all ways because he is black South African. Arthur Jarvis is an engineer and has all the privileges of white South Africa, yet he is keen on social justice and works to bring it to pass. What irony then that the one without kills the one seeking to bring justice. However, it is this very irony that brings their fathers to friendship, to a bonding of black man and white man.

Umfundisi is the black priest (not Catholic) of a simple, poor church in a village located near the home of the rich landowner and farmer, James Jarvis, who really does not know his son until he is dead. It is the getting to know his son that he connects with the African, and the father becomes the son in the ways of love and forgiveness. The umfundisi is one of my favorite characters in all literature I have read because of his humility and reverence.

This novel, published in 1948, remains as one, even today, apropos to race relations, to their very real potentials and actualities. Mutual respect, sincerity, forgiveness, and grace all come to the fore in this most magnificent, lyrical novel.

It would be on my Top 10 list of books I would take if marooned on the proverbial deserted island.

BOTH THE PRICE AND THE CONDITION OF BOOK WAS REALLY GOOD !!
THANK YOU ~

Cry, the Beloved Country is a rare book that presents a superbly written story that creates a sense of sacredness that is palpable. The characters in the book demonstrate the struggle of humanity to overcome pain and suffering through forgiveness, redemption and love. The main character Stephen Kumalo, an Anglican Parson in S. Africa, illustrates the gentleness, love and unselfishness that characterize the fruits of a life lived in God's presence. In the sorrows that occur during the story however he experiences darkness described by Paton, "There are times, no doubt, when God seems no more to be about the world." He refuses to lose faith in God or in the people around him. The relationship that buds between him and the father of a man murdered by Kumalo's son represents the fruit of forgiveness and redemption. What comes from it is healing for a valley and a people.

Paton paints the picture of S. Africa that included a beautiful country with beautiful people that had fallen victim to the vices of the modern world and the negative outcomes of a class/race-based society.

This is a book that no doubt contributed to the healing and reconciliation among the people of S. Africa.

In addition to its moral and spiritual qualities, the story is compelling and enjoyable to read.

The plea of the book stands out as the cry for all humanity:
"God save Africa, the beloved country. God save us from the deep depths of our sins. God save us from the fear that is afraid of justice. God save us from the fear that is afraid of men. God save us all."

I had to read this book for school, and we just finished it a couple days ago. Now, I'm not saying that it was a horrible book because it wasn't. I can honestly say it was one of the better books I've read for school. (I really, really hate it when we have to read those old, English classics.) But it wasn't what I expected it to be at all. I was expecting a brilliant piece of work about racial and prejudice problems of South Africa, but I found those things to be a sidenote of this novel. It was mostly about a quiet, humble paster looking for his family. While it was touching that he did eventually find all of his family, I thought there should have been more to the story. More about the friction between the different races that inhabited South Africa. Then it turned into a To Kill a Mockingbird type thing, with the trial and everything. While I found the writing to be good, I thought it was kind of boring. And there must have been some translation problems because somethings just didn't make sense. But all in all, it was a good book. I don't plan on re-reading it ever, but it was still okay. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. I just liked it.

Cry Beloved Country is a beautiful , lyrical book. Paton has an interesting writting style which adds to the poetry of the novel.Stephen Kumalo, a Angelican priest of Zulu ethnicity is the parson of a native African congregation. He lives in the countryside which is suffering from drought and erosion of the soil. He journeys to the city to seek his sister and his son. Kumalo is a good man. There is a tragedy ,but also inspirational actions. There is nothing sugary sweet about this story.The ending is upbeat and demonstrates the goodness of people.

Although this book is about 60 years old I just read it for the 1st time. It is a keeper and a treasure. It is a book that you will want to revisit often at least for awhile. I find the book to be filled with spiritual messages. You will see the making of aparthaid long before it was abolished. The story itself is quite suspenseful and Paton's writing style is unique. I like it.

The story of one man's quest to find his son and to seek forgiveness. I had never heard of this book prior to the 1001 Books To Read list (it had not been required reading in high school), and I am sorry I didn't read earlier. This book is one of the most memorable books I've ever read, and I know I will look forward to re-reading it again one day.

I understand some here have not taken kindly to Mr. Paton's writing style, but I found it engaging and very easy to read. His descriptive style, for me, was far from boring and kept me involved in the story to the point where I could envision all that was happening. For me, his words just flowed so evenly.

The story may be a little dated for today's politics being as the novel was written in 1946; however, it provides a thought-provoking point of view of the beginnings of apartheid in South Africa. The issues are complex, and the answers are not always easy or simple, but the effect on people is amazing and long-lasting. Mr. Paton describes how every facet of life is touched through this horrible policy. The dilemma of complexity is driven home when the stories of two men, Kumalo and Jarvis - one black, the other white - come together. Sympathies for both men are strong and the reader can find their hearts wrenched at what happens simply because that's the way it is done.

Well done and thoroughly enjoyed!

Many friends recommended CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY to me over the years, but it was not until May of this year that the book came my way in the form a gift. I picked it up one evening and--much to my own amazement--read it in a single sitting. Yes, it really is that good.

Published in 1948, the book tells a simple story. Zulu-born Stephen Kumalo is the elderly Christian priest of a tiny church who has seldom set foot outside his rural South Africa village; he is both uncertain and frightened when he summoned to Johannesburg to attend his sister, who is in great crisis. Once in the city, however, he determines to locate his son Absalom, who also lives in Johannesburg and from whom he has received no news for quite some time. Kumalo conducts his search with a mounting sense of despair--and ultimately finds himself in the midst of both personal tragedy and public scandal.

Although the story is grim, the novel itself is not. Alan Payton (1903-1988) wrote several novels, but CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY is best-known and most widely read work, and much of its power rests on the remarkable way in which he styles his prose: it possesses a shining simplicity that not only seems to capture the vocal cadence of South Africa but also allows the reader to see through the novel's several levels with a remarkable sense of clarity.

Much of the novel's power resides in its portrait of South Africa in this particular era. The word "apartheid" had not attained its full implication in 1948, but Paton not only identifies the almost accidental seeds of apartheid, he forecasts the ultimate result as well. Paton also endows the novel with a very clear idea of what Christianity should be in actual practice as opposed to what it too often is in actual fact, and although the story is indeed dark, the humanity involved is such that one never feels the darkness cannot be dispelled.

The older I become, the less inclined I am to keep books; these days I read them and give them away, and new permanent additions to my library are rare. But CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY is a keeper, a book I've no doubt I'll return to again and again.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer
With Thanks to Kate, Whose Gift This Book Was

I didn't think I would like this book. I have never seen a writing style like this, so it was a little strange to start. However, I quickly changed my mind. It was a wonderful book that is uplifting and thought-provoking. I cried at the end of it because the story was so beautiful. This is a must read.

Alan Paton's Cry the Beloved Country is an eye opening look into 1940's South Africa. The main character pastor Stephen Kumalo tries to save his family from the trap that is the city of Johannesburg. Once in Johannesburg Kumalo quickly realizes hard life is in the white dominated society and how easy it is to fall into the trap. The book does start off a bit slow but by the middle it will have you sucked in. Paton vividly shows how crupt people can be but also shows how good hearted people can be. If you are looking for a book with emotion and life lessons this is a must read.

CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY EMBRACES ALL THAT IS BEAUTIFUL IN SOUTH AFRICA AND AT THE SAME TIME REVEALS HARDSHIPS ENDURED DURING THE APARTHEID. THIS NOVEL IS A VERY HISTORICALLY ENHANCING READ SURROUNDED BY A STORY OF LOVE, FAMILY AND ENDURANCE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL AS A QUICK BUT GREAT READ CAPTURING THE READER'S HEART EARLY IN THE STORY.

After reading Cry, the Beloved Country I realized how terrible the situation is in South Africa. I knew it was in bad condition now but to actually feel like I was there really made me realize that the grass is not always greener on the other side. This book had its emotional moments; for instance when Stephen Kumalo finds out all the situation his son Absalom is put in. I recommend this book to anyone who has an opened mind, and wants to learn more about cultural differences.

With this book Mr. Paton gives us an inside look at South African apartheid in the 1940's. We live this story through the eyes of a poor Zulu pastor who decides to travel from his small village to Johannesburg in hopes to save his son from mounting troubles. The migration of gold mine workers to the cities has increased the crime rate due to the separation of families. Exploitation of these laborers has caused a political unrest in Johannesburg.

Stephen Kumalo, our Zulu pastor, has to question his own parenting and lifestyle when he sees the poor decision making of his own son. Stephen meets a varied barrage of people, some who help and some who choose silence as the easiest way to stay out of trouble, when searching for his son.

CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY is a must read book. The story gave me insight on this foreign culture and the hardships experienced by not only the exploited workers of the South African gold mines, but the destroyed families of said workers. This book is mandatory criterion for schools in South Africa and it is worthy of this praise.

This book is a quick read, but the issues it approaches are complicated, difficult, and polarizing. There are no easy answers, and this book offers no explicit solutions to the individual, abstract, and institutional forms of prejudice and injustice it tackles. Was apartheid evil and unjust? There is no question it is. But, how can a country recover from its ingrained scars of such a system? There is no specific answer, but the solution is partly in what Paton illuminates in his relationship between the country parson Kumalo and his neighbor, the senior Jarvis. Or to put it more simply, the answer to systematized brutal racism can be found partly in individual responsibility, reason, and compassion.

Two issues the book left me with: I did not think the penalty imposed on Kumalo's son was just, especially considering his intent; and I thought Kumalo's Bishop who asked him to depart Kumalo and Jarvis' hometown stupidly didn't consider Kumalo and Jarvis' individual will in the face of tragic circumstances and this made him quite unreal. The Bishop especially bothered me because his position indicated enlightenment, and Paton depicted him as so two-dimensional I wonder if Paton himself believes religion reinforces the subjugation of South African natives - in subtle and more overt ways. Or if Paton wanted to portray institutional religion as more concerned with outward appearances, and acting in hypocritical ways that undermine the true benevolent role religion should ideally play in society.

I traveled through JoBo a few years ago. The economic disparity is staggering. I also taught in Namibia for several months about five years ago. (Namibia used to be part of South Africa until it gained its independence in 1990.) Namibia is probably as socially segregated today as America was in the 1950s. All the white German kids attended private school and all the black/colored kids attended the over-crowded, under-funded public schools. (In fact, some Germans even celebrate Hilter's birthday and some celebrate Kristallnacht.) The truth of my experience in Namibia is - it's a beautiful country, filled with beautful, trusting people who are generous and have no fear of connecting with white foreigners.

So, Cry, The Beloved Country raises complicated social issues, but certainly offers no explicit solutions. I think Paton does offer what he thinks are key to overcoming such social difficulties - education, true commitment to change, the bond of the family, decency, society, children -- I think Paton offers these things as the proper destiny of men.

I didn't feel as moved by this book as I did by actually seeing the problems for myself. And, in fact, my response to Paton's depiction of JoBo and its problems is pretty much "He stated the obvious very well."

This book is a quick read, but the issues it approaches are complicated, difficult, and polarizing. There are no easy answers, and this book offers no explicit solutions to the individual, abstract, and institutional forms of prejudice and injustice it tackles. Was apartheid evil and unjust? There is no question it is. But, how can a country recover from its ingrained scars of such a system? There is no specific answer, but the solution is partly in what Paton illuminates in his relationship between the country parson Kumalo and his neighbor, the senior Jarvis. Or to put it more simply, the answer to systematized brutal racism can be found partly in individual responsibility, reason, and compassion.

Two issues the book left me with: I did not think the penalty imposed on Kumalo's son was just, especially considering his intent; and I thought the Kumalo's Bishop who asked him to depart his hometown so stupidly didn't consider the individual will of Kumalo and Jarvis to bond in spite of tragic circumstances that it made him quite unreal. The Bishop especially bothered because his position indicated enlightenment, and Paton depicted him as so two-dimensional I wonder if Paton himself believes religion reinforces the subjugation of South African natives - in subtle and more overt ways. Or if Paton wanted to portray institutional religion as more concerned with outward appearances, and acting in hypocritical ways that undermine the true benevolent role religion should ideally play in society.

I traveled through JoBo a few years ago. The economic disparity is staggering. I also taught in Namibia for several months about five years ago. (Namibia used to be part of South Africa until gained independence from it in 1990.) Namibia is probably as socially segregated today as America was in the 1950s. All the white German kids attended private school and all the black/colored kids attended the over-crowded, under-funded public schools. In fact, some Germans celebrate Hilter's birthday and some celebrate Kristallnacht.

So, Cry, The Beloved Country raises complicated social issues, but certainly offers no explicit solutions. I think Paton does offer what he thinks are key to overcoming such social difficulties - education, true commitment to change, the bond of the family, decency, society, children -- I think Paton offers these things as the proper destiny of men.

I didn't feel as moved by this book as I did by actually seeing the problems for myself. And, in fact, my response to Paton's depiction of JoBo and its problems is pretty much "He stated the obvious very well."

A beautiful portrait of South Africa under Apartheid, one that takes into account the struggles and heroism of all groups. Its reputed boringness is hardly a problem considering what a quick and enriching read it is.

Alan Paton writes eloquently about personal struggles, triumphs, and losses. Almost biblical, the lyrical dialogues and descriptions draw you into the reality that is South Africa and don't let you go. Stephen Kumalo becomes a hero and a friend to empathize with and admire. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys great literature and a great story. The 1995 movie with James Earl Jones was superbly done and was the first of the three versions to be filmed in South Africa. The last scene with Kumalo on the mountaintop is so beautiful and moving that it will make you cry. For more great reading I recommend "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

I have begun reading this book as a prereq for the International Baccalaureate program; now, not too far in, I decided to check reviews on Amazon to see if I am in for a long haul of a book report, trying my best to finish an utterly dull and stupendously bland book.

However, I, being in the French version of the program, was absolutely sickened to see reviewers referring in such a derogatory manner to the author in regards to the hyphen (-) used to commence phrases in the book in lieu of quotations (").

What they fail to realize is that quotations are a strictly English-speaking thing. Considering the writer was not born in Britain, nor the United States, nor English-speaking Canada, it is perfectly acceptable for a hyphen to be used to start a phrase. I have been reading like this for years...yes, it will take getting used to, but it is a very multicultural thing and those who learn to weave around it if they are so distracted by it will realize that, although in my personal opinion the book is a bit of a snorefest, the writer uses metaphors, similes and euphanisms in a distinct and unique manner.

"What are master-pieces and why are there so few of them?" was Gertrude Stein's rhetorical question. Gertrude would have found plenty to criticize about Cry, the Beloved Country. Sentimental; politically correct; intensely personnal; carefully crafted; embedded in a time, a place, and a people - Alan Paton's novel is everything that Ms. Stein despised in novels. But it is also undeniably a Master-Piece.

Cry, the Beloved Country is at once a poetic portrait of South Africa, a testament of racial justice, and the universal story of suffering and despair overcome by hope and love. The protagonist is a village parson, Stephen Kumalo, who travels to Johannesburg in seach of his loved ones (son, sister, and brother) who have been lost to urbanization. In his search, Kumalo loses more than he thought he had to lose. But his stubborn integrity is rewarded in all the ways that matter.

The literary quality of this novel is undeniable. Paton shows a fine facility with with dialect, description, point of view, and voice. I was particularly impressed by Paton's effective use of the second person in passages that evoke sympathetic internal dialogs and solidify his varied characters.

I'm more than mid-way in this novel.. I'm struggling to finish it.
the core of the story is fine. I mean a man looking for his son.
but the temptation of the writer to make this book into a history book of south africa is killingly borring.
and what's whith the repeated parts ! no one needs to read the same paragraph twice!

I've heard soooo much about this book that got me interested into it. now I wish I just continued being interested without reading it.

seriously, know the main part. which u can know from the back of the book.

It is too simple to simply report this as a book about apartheid. The novel depicts human nature beautifully--the fact that the story line is about South Africa is just a prop to describe how and why people acts as they do. So much of this story applies today and in so many settings=--and in our own backyards.

This is a remarkable novel and while I don't see it on too many lists of the greatest 100 novels--it belongs there.

Unconditionally recommended for the thoughtful reader.

Reading some of the reviews for this book has been interesting to say the least. In CBC Paton writes in verse, not prose. This is something that not many pick up on, but it is shown through his use of repetition and imagery. This book is somewhat tragic in that it paints a hopeful picture for South Africa's future only a few years before apartheid was established. CBC is not a book for those who don't have the patience for Paton's wonderful use of verse.

The extraordinary beauty of Paton's best-known novel--the first of many works set in his native South Africa--is not its lyrical prose, its biblical allusions, or its evocative descriptions of Natal and Johannesburg. While all of these elements are striking and original, what truly lends the work its power are the moral questions the author leaves unanswered. Refusing to assign blame and casting an empathetic look both at the ruling white class and at impoverished blacks, Paton offers a far more devastating condemnation of apartheid than if he had written a book with clear-cut villains and saviors. The author's abhorrence of what became of South African society never threatens to overwhelm his love for his homeland.

The novel's two protagonists are Stephen Kumalo, a black pastor in the countryside, and James Jarvis, a wealthy white man. Both men are remote from their sons; Absalom left his rural home to seek a new life in Johannesburg, where Arthur Jarvis fights for racial justice--much to the chagrin of his conservative father. Chance and circumstance throw these two young men into a fatal confrontation, and their fathers struggle to make something from what little remains of their sons' lives.

Paton acknowledged that he began this novel shortly after reading Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath"--and the influence is obvious and deliberate. Published as protest novels, both works revealed to an international readership the squalid lives of migrant workers and of the African underclass, respectively. Not coincidentally, both novels are also heavily indebted to the Book of Job. Overall, I think Paton's book improves on its illustrious counterpart; remaining faithful to the traditions of American naturalism, Paton's prose strips away Steinbeck's occasionally excessive verbiage to a leaner, meaner singsong prose.

This book is an inspirational glance at the inherent goodness in man and it's abuse by fellow man. While dealing with touchy subjects, namely apartheid, the ideas presented by Paton are as powerful as anything Orwell could have written. The bright, fresh, and positive future suggested by Paton reaches deeper into the soul than the dystopia presented by many 20th century authors. With conviction in God and country Paton illustrates the power of forgiveness and love in changing a corrupt society.

The writing is trully amazing. I have never read such a lyrical book. There are sections of it which feel like they could to be sung. There is wonderful poetic rhythm to the language.

And then of course there is the actual story ... which is also beautiful and tragic. The drama is very intense. Don't let the difficult to pronounce names put you off. This is worth reading numerous times.

This is the worst book ever written. im serious. It does not make sense, it is really boring. Nothing happens, there is so much unneccesary writting. The author could have written the same information on just 100 pages. Do not buy this book. you will regret it . I repeat, you will regret it. Do not waste your money this book. Please look at other books instead. The author has written the book in a really stupid way. like right at the beggining, the protagonist recieves a grave letter from johhannesburg. Then his wike asks him what they should do about it. Then the protagonist responds DO ABOUT WHAT? then his wife says the letter of course.
When I read this, I thought, Damn this book sucks!
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!

They say the worst fear of a parent is for their child to die before them. There's something unnatural about it. In Cry...two sets of parents have this fear become a reality, but the focus is primarily on the fathers, Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis.

Set in South Africa during the gold mine craze, Cry...shows the effects of white imperialism on a predominately black nation. James' son is one of the few whites sympathetic to the plight of the native African people, yet is shot down by one of them, Kumalo's son, during a robbery.

The two fathers are united by this tragic event and the pain that accompanies it. Both men learn and grow from the experience and use this newfound growth and knowledge to help each other and the people of their hometown. They try to make some sense of the havoc in Africa, and to bring hope to the destitute people who are made to help the wealthy get wealthier, but who are not allowed to share any of that wealth. We can see now how Africa has been sucked dry and the people left to starve and die of disease thanks to exploitation.

The story is a 5-star, but the writing style is a 4, averaging it at a 4.5, which has to be rounded to a 5 rating. The language can sound wooden and repetitive. One could argue this is simply how the African people would sound in English; but, I still believe the dialogue could have been livelier than: "Will you stay father? Yes, I will stay son. Okay, father. Okay, son."

To clear up some confusion, some of the chapters consist of no dialogue between the main characters, but dialogue of anonymous and random people in Johannesburg discussing the different ills of the city.

Cry, the Beloved Country is an easy read and a good one.

This is a really great book....I started reading it knowing nothing abt how popular it was etc.....I was really moved by the lyrical prose......It is a book that doesnt judge, doesnt take a high stand, doesnt provide a solution to the problem....just talks about it in humane way.....really beautiful.... a must read for everyone....and trust me, it is a serious book....without all the pretensions of one.....

This book is one of the most interesting books i have ever read Alan Paton you are a interlectual being

Reverend Stephen Kumalo lives with his wife in a remote village, Ndotsheni, where he is a respected umfundisi. His sister Gertrude, his brother John and his son Absalom have all gone to live to Johannesburg. One day The reverend receives a letter from Theophilus Msimangu urging him to come to Johannesburg because Gertrude is very sick.
And so begins Stephen's long descent from the mountains to the capital which almost resembles a descent into Hell. Indeed, he is to discover that Gertrude is a prostitute and liquor seller who doesn't care about her young daughter, that John is a politician fighting against the white leadership and that Absalom has murdered a white man.
Mr Paton admirably portrays all the contradictions which the people of South Africa endured in the 1950s. And he does so through the eyes of a forlorn old man who tries to make sense of the way the members of his family behave. The author's humanity, compassion, generosity and wisdom are apparent in every sentence he writes and his novel shows with sensitivity the complex social and racial issues in a country where so many had to suffer for so long.

I was moved and cried till my eyes ached. This is one of the best books I have and will ever read.

i am only 12 but i loved this book either way in the story a preacher goes to jahanasburg in search of his dying sister and his son. It isnt exactly the kind of book for fantasy but it tells you the real life of some people.

It is a blessing for a booklover to come across a story which is so deep like Cry the beloved country. The characters are dissected and made so real. The plot is awesome and the pace of the story is fast moving. Plotted in the depth of Apartheid South Africa, this story brought out the lamentation of a soul of a nation, a lamentation that is felt by all the different ethnic and racial groups involved. I watched the movie on the story "Amok" and it gave the full visual presentation of the story. I will recommend this book to all booklovers with a curious mind about an era, a people and a nation that stared at disaster straight in the eyes and chose the option of peace.
Also recommended: Triple Agent Double Cross,Animal farm ,Usurper and Other Stories,Arrow of God

Alan Paton's novel, 'Cry the Beloved Country,' remains one of the most popular and beloved books because of the themes it explores and its knowledgeable portrayel of life in South Africa. Even though it is a fairly old book, its themes have remained important in South Africa today. As this country struggles with a post-Apartheid past and current racial divides, this book remains important. It tells the story of a black priest and his involvement in the trial of a young black man and a powerful white landowner. Even though the trial has a sad outcome, the priest and the white man learn to forgive and accept differences so it isn't all in vain. A must-read for anyone interested in this great country and its current or past issues.

Cry the Beloved Country is a beautifully written book that bares the heart of one man's story about racial divide and it's effect upon his family. It tells the tale of tremendous injustice that is lain upon the shoulders of those who had their lives forever altered by a series of events and decisions forged out of ignorance and indifference. It is a grand novel of South African politics, underlain by the stories of those who lived under the legal system. It tells about good men and uncaring men, men of different races who are selfish and men of different races who care beyond measure. It shows how the racial divide is built by people on both sides and also how it is systematically deconstructed by good, honest decent men to whom race itself is not a measuring stick.
This is a classic book, set against the amazing backdrop of a land that is in and of itself a contradiction, both lush and yet bleak, like the heart and soul of each person involved in this novel, where the consequences of each action carry on far beyond their perceived boundaries.

The story line involving several generations reveals how age affords patience and a sense of realism to a person. It also reveals how distorted a society can become for both the oppressed and the oppressor. Written during apartheid, it's a world divided by fear and pain even unto death.
Paton was not exactly a career writer when he took this up. Anyone who is interested in learning how to write effective, creative dialogue would do well to read this. Quotation marks are not used and therefore not OVERused. Instead it begins with a simple dash mark like this -Pretty good eh? It was so REFRESHING, I never realized how tedious and distracting breaking away to quotation marks could be in reading and attempting to comprehend a novel. Paton in not being overschooled in writing of the novel didn't know the rules so didn't use them, resulting in a really fresh piece of writing.

When I first was assigned this book for my English class, I was at first doubtful of the book, especially because I knew it was a book in Oprah's book club. My teacher, deciding to prolong the torture, made us take four weeks to read it at home and at class everyday. Needless to say, I payed absolutely no attention during class. Because we had an assignment due, and I could obtain a B if I did well on the rest of my year's projects, I decided to read the book.

I was at first skeptical, but soon found that the story itself is interesting. It is a story about the intertwining of the lives of a black and white man, whose sons met with conflict. But more than that, it is a story of hope for the African people. The message of this story is actually quite effective, with me, an 18 year old male, actually enjoying the book.

When I first started reading it, I felt that the language was chunky and ineffective. However, after getting used to Paton's style, it became easier to decipher his message. It is both races that are to blame for the current situation in Africa. The whites destroyed a culture and replaced it with nothing, while the blacks refused to take control over their lives. It is a story of the rebirth of Ndotsheni and the understanding between two men of different races. This cooperation provides a symbol of hope to Africa that things may be changed.

The reason I give it a four is purely personal, for it is not an entertaining book but should be read by any academic mind.

It is a blessing for a booklover to come across a story which is so deep like Cry the beloved country. The characters are dissected and made so real. The plot is awesome and the pace of the story is fast moving. Plotted in the depth of Apartheid South Africa, this story brought out the lamentation of a soul of a nation, a lamentation that is felt by all the different ethnic and racial groups involved. I watched the movie on the story "Amok" and it gave the full visual presentation of the story. I will recommend this book to all booklovers with a curious mind about an era, a people and a nation that stared at disaster straight in the eyes and chose the option of peace.Disciples of Fortune,Animal farm , Disgrace
are other novels with ingenious characters and an inspiring hero.

This is a powerful book. The theme is universal. If the names were changed it could have been about native americans or any oppressed peoples. In parts of it I felt a "Grapes of Wrath" type quality. People go to the city with hope looking for a better life. There they loose their hope and turn to vices and crime. They disappear into the woodwork not making contact with their former lives - almost like a loss of innocence.

The only problem I had with the book was that the progress and improvement experienced in the valley occured because of a tragic murder. I almost got the feeling as I was reading that it was a good thing this man was killed. That bothered me. I am sure that is not what the author had in mind. Otherwise, it is a very worthwhile book to read - especially the first two books.

Alan Paton writes eloquently about personal struggles, triumphs, and losses. Almost biblical, the lyrical dialogues and descriptions draw you into the reality that is South Africa and don't let you go. Stephen Kumalo becomes a hero and a friend to empathize with and admire. As a college student, I have read this book 5 times and written papers on it for English, History, and Sociology classes. (I got A's on all of them!) I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys great literature and a great story. The 1995 movie with James Earl Jones was superbly done and was the first of the three versions made to be filmed in South Africa. The last scene with Kumalo on the mountaintop was so beautiful and moving it made me cry

I didn't like the way it swiched to another topic in the middle of the book. It didn't make sence. It really screwed me up becove of that. I didn't like reading this book for school.

yes, the storyline is great, its churns your emotions, you feel for kumalo and everything and everyone around him. But hey, this is not the first time i have read a book that is as moving. But definitely the book gives you a peek into the aparthied situation in Southafrica. Just a peek, there are more worser things happening there.

I honestly struggled to read the book and understand it because of the language. I like simple language, which is understadable in todays world. And i think if this book was re - written in not so poetic style, i would have loved it.

Its a tough read. You need to clear your mind of distractions to understand the book.

But seriously whats the hue and cry all about!!!! Not fascinated.

This is one of my all time favorite books. I cried and I smiled at the same time. The story is very well written and tells a story about a wonderfully gentle man who does his best to help everyone he meets. Without telling too much of the story, he goes from a small village in the midst of incredible change and goes to the large city in search of two members of his family. Several situations arise, not always with a happy ending, but he faces them with sincerity, compassion, and a commitment that is inspiring. I took from this story the lesson that the worst situation that a person might ever have to deal with in their life that love can shine through and prove that there is a powerful goodness in man that is only waiting to be discovered and revealed.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the social consequences of racisim.

I read in the first few pages that this story was written first in Norway, then in America. I don't understand how an outsider can judge what is going on from the outside without being on the inside.

An addition:

If one does not realize this truth, you will never understand history or world events. A person that is on the outside can never make a correct judgement on what he sees or what he reads. He can say "Oh that's sad" or "Oh that's terrible". But he is never in the position to judge who is right and who is wrong.

This is an example, "A football takes a cheap shot at another player on the opposing team's player, that player on the other team takes a shot back. The referee catches the second player, and gives a fine." This happens all the time in football.

This is the same as making judgements on other nations, other communities, and other races. Make a right judgement.

-Calvin Newman

A beautifully written exploration of racial divisions that transports the reader into 1946 South Africa through Paton's vivid descriptions of place and people. Originally written around 1948, it's themes of race, family, injustice, and political division ring as true today throughout our world as they did then. Though this story is set in South Africa, there are people in every country who can find relevance in the issues raised in Cry, The Beloved Country because bigotry continues to find a home in the hearts of many. There are still many in our world who are being treated unjustly due to their skin color, their political beliefs, their religion or lack thereof, or nationality. Reading this books touches the heart and makes one long for a world where our differences no longer divide us but become a way for us to enrich one another's lives.

Alan Paton certainly had his heart in the right place but couldn't disguise his paternalistic feelings of the plight of the native South African, bringing down what was otherwise a good novel. While Paton recognized the vast injustices being committed in his nation, he failed to recognize the ability of the African to address these concerns. Instead, he created dramatic contrasts between the rural countryside and the City of Gold, Johannesburg, which drew these rural natives into its teeming midst, only to find pain and heartache. In this case it is a father looking for his son, Absalom, only to find that his son has killed a white man. The book resonates with Biblical allusions, taking on the form of a parable, but Paton did not explore the complexities of the situations he created too deeply. He used them more for effect. This is what is most disconcerting about the novel, as it seemed aimed more at a liberal white reader, forcing him to identify with one of his own in the victim he created in Arthur Jarvis.

While Paton struggled admirably to get into the mind of Stephen Kumalo, the berieved father of the son who was an accomplice in the murder of Jarvis, Kumalo is forced to turn to a benevolent white lawyer to represent his son in court. This relationship reinforced Paton view that utimately it was the white man who would save the black man by attacking his own system of government. While this served as an indictment, of sorts, against the apartheid system, it had a hollow ring to it, not taking into account the vast number of protests and other forms of non-violent demonstrations Black, Coloured and Indian South Africans held in defiance of apartheid laws. Instead, Paton reduced apartheid South African to the most simplistic of terms, unable, it seemed, the understand, or at least come to terms with, the number of gradients in the system.

Still, it is a moving novel, especially when Paton deals with what he understands most, the anguish of the conscientious white man in reconciling himself with a corrupt system of government. This is seen mostly through James Jarvis, whose son was murdered by Stephen Kumalo's son. One gets the sense that Paton put a lot of himself into Jarvis.

Have you ever set up dominoes on their end all in a line, then once they are all set up you touch the first one and it sets off a cascade effect knocking them all over one at a time? The beginning of the game is slow and tedious, but the cascade effect is worth it. Some classics are like setting up dominoes. They begin slowly, and the unfortunate reader will put the book down in disgust and never return to it. A more persistent reader is richly rewarded for their patience. Cry, The Beloved Country is that kind of a classic, others are Tale of Two Cities, Dickens and Jane Eyre, Bronte.

The language is beautiful, I don't enjoy flowery descriptions of scenery, but in Cry the descriptions helped you feel as if you were there without being too lengthy. The characters are well developed, and some are people I would really love to know. However, because I did care about the characters, the story in the beginning, is just so sad that I almost fell into that catagory of unfortunate readers who quit reading early and miss out on the treasure. I'm grateful that I didn't.

Inspite of the difficult beginning, this has become one of my favorite books. It carries you from despair to hope. It is a story about South Africa and its people, but it is also a story that has something for each of us.

Cry, The Beloved County leaves you a better person when you put it down than when you started it. It is a journey not to be missed.