Cry, the Beloved Country

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. First published in 1948, Cry, The Beloved Country addresses the problem of race relations in South Africa with the scrupulousness of a historian, the sensitivity of a poet and stands as the single most important novel in twentieth-century South African literature.

This book is ranked number 17 in the Global Reads list

Recommended by:

Clive Nettleton
"Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. A classic which I read on the recommendation of one of my closest friends in my final year of primary school. Written in 1948 it is a compelling story, beautifully told. The power of the book lies in its exploration of not only the injustice of apartheid, but also the complexities and moral challenges of race relations just as South Africa entered the dark period of nationalist rule. It made a great impression, planting the seeds for my later thinking and development."