Foreword

Introduction

A Biography

Alan Paton

Characters and Plot

Themes in Cry, the Beloved Country

The Disintegration of Tribal Society

Harold Reeves Collins

Paton, like other African writers of his day, accurately portrays the tribal desolation and the complexity of racial relations even among blacks and whites of good will

Fear Pervades Cry, the Beloved Country

Tony Morphet

Paton's own fear underlines the story and unifies the novel. The novel's art springs from the author's, the protagonist's, and other characters' pondering, grappling with, and attempting to overcome their country's and their own fear and its destructive effects

Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Cry, the Beloved Country

Horton Davies

In Cry, the Beloved Country, one of Paton's themes is the conflict between Christian principles and racial prejudices. The priests in the novel show by both words and actions that racial tensions can be eased by compassion and forgiveness

Christian Affirmation and Redemption in Cry, the Beloved Country

Edmund Fuller

Paton's novel transcends the tragic view of life by means of its Christian affirmation which brings comfort amidst desolation

The Novel's Artistic Achievement

Paton's Generosity of Spirit Makes Cry, the Beloved Country a Great Work

Orville Prescott

Cry, the Beloved Country is a great book that portrays cruelty tragedy without neglecting the capacity of human beings to love and forgive one another:

Paton Uses Zulu to Convey Positive Values

J.M. Coetzee

Paton purposely does not attempt to translate Zulu into English literally. In his free translation of Zulu, however, he implies that some of his characters share an old fashioned, pastoral goodness

Geographical and Biblical Symbols in Cry, the Beloved Country

Sheridan Baker

The geographical metaphors in Cry, the Beloved Country support the symbolic roles of the novel's characters

Paton's Style Is Crucial to the Novel's Success

Rose Moss

Paton influenced millions of readers through his strong Iiturgical style

Cry, the Beloved Country Overcomes Racial Division

Sousa Jamba

The quality of Alan Paton's prose in Cry, the Beloved Country transcends issues of race

Politics and Cry, the Beloved Country

Alan Paton's Influence Extended Beyond Literature

Carol Iannone

Paton's call in Cry, the Beloved Country for racial justice still resonates more than 50 years after the novel's publication

Racial Stereotyping in Cry, the Beloved Country

Patrick Colm Hogan

Hogan presents Paton as dehumanizing blacks in Cry, the Beloved Country---by treating them as juveniles who need the guidance of culturally superior whites

Teaching Cry, the Beloved Country in the Classroom

Robert Mossman

Mossman argues that at least who novels must be studied together in order for the portrayal of South Africa to be legitimate, valid, and successful

Cry, the Beloved Country Is Visionary but Honest

F. Charles Rooney

In this realistic novel, Paton shows he has not only heart, but a vision of the life of the spirit

Cry, the Beloved Country Is Unrealistic

A.A. Monye

Monye dismisses Cry, the Beloved Country's thesis, ``Love thy neighbor as thyself,'' as an inadequate sermon, and declares, ``It is doubtful how love would work when fear rules the lives of both races in South Africa.''

Cry, the Beloved Country Is Still Relevant After 50 Years

Andrew Foley

Cry, the Beloved Country is a socially and politically accurate story, neither naive nor paternalistic, that is still relevant 50 years after its publication

Chronology

For Further Research

Index