CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY
by Alan Paton
Reviewed by Nordeen Morello, Book-‘Em
 (December
19, 2003) It should not require Oprah’s Book Club to
bring readers to Alan Paton’s Cry, The Beloved
Country. First published in 1948, its understated,
elegant writing and heartfelt story have had a timeless appeal
ever since.
The essential storyline revolves around the journey of Kumalo,
a native Zulu and Anglican priest, to the city of Johannesburg
as he searches to find his sister and his son who have separately
settled there and not been heard from. Both Gertrude and son
Absalom have not fared well in the city and will, ultimately,
be lost to Kumalo. Paton explores the disintegration of tribal
culture, the migration to, and ills of, urban life, and the
fear-based divide between Blacks and Whites which all presage
the eventual establishment of Apartheid in South Africa. Surprisingly,
while poignant, Paton’s message is not a hopeless one.
Most notably, every member of the group loved reading this
book, a first in Book-‘Em’s three and a half year
existence! Specifically, we felt this was beautiful writing
about a beautiful land. Paton’s intensity and passion
for his subject speaks to the reader. In unspoken respect
for and acknowledgement of this simple and somber work, our
discussion was muted. We had all learned much about the history
of South Africa and felt an awareness of the racial and cultural
divide that no high school course had managed to instill.
There were no heated discussions or burning questions.
Perhaps Cry, The Beloved Country
best serves book groups as a venue to explore the question
“What defines/makes a classic?” As a novel to
be read, it has our unequivocal recommendation.
FROM THE EDITORS: We'd love to hear from other Larchmont
readers. Take the Book poll and add your
comments.
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