Review: Cry, The Beloved Country

Title: Cry, The Beloved Country
Author: Alan Paton
Publisher: Penguin (1998)
Pages: 240
Genre: Fiction, Twentieth Century Classic
Book Source: My Own Copy

Back Cover Summary:
In the city of Johannesburg a father seeks his delinquent son. His search takes him through a labyrinth of murder, prostitution, racial hatred and, ultimately, reconciliation. In Cry, The Beloved Country Alan Paton addresses the problem of race relations in South Africa with the scrupulousness of a historian, the sensitivity of a poet. Over forty years after its creation it remains the classic narrative of racial tensions - intensely pertinent, unforgettably poignant.

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My Comments: Cry, The Beloved Country has been one of my all time favorites for years now. It is a deeply moving story set in South Africa. By describing the tragedy of one family, the troubles of the whole nation are made personal and persuasive. An old Reverend goes on a journey from his home in a small rural village, to Johannesburg. He is looking for his lost son and his sister who have both been lost to the promise of work to be had in the big city. The sad truth that he discovers is that his two family members have turned to a life of crime and prostitution in order to survive. While seemingly powerless against the forces of the city, the Reverend does not give up his effort to bring them home.

This highly emotional story has many intense scenes. The problems of race relations, poverty, crime and the corrosion of the traditional ways are explored in their complexity. The poetic language Paton employs in his descriptions of people and places made Cry, The Beloved Country a joy to read. The atmosphere characters, plot, themes and setting are all very well developed. The empathy that Paton elicits through the plot and characters make a box of tissues a necessary accompaniment for this book! I highly recommend it.

Quote: There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it." (p.7)