![]() I wanted to hear again the much quoted beautiful opening paragraph about the meandering hills and dusty roads of Ixopo despite the limitations of South African liberalism and associated writings. I picked up this well known (and no doubt dated) South African novel by famed liberal writer, Alan Paton. South African classic read by non South African SA is now a democracy, and Apartheid is no longer law, but the crime in Johannesburg is still just as bad, and there are still squatter settlements and poor people being exploited. Unfortunately a lot of what Alan Paton wrote in 1948 is still applicable 60 years later. The story gets 5+, and is worth listening to. So, Michael York's narration skill gets 5, but subtract 2 for bad research. Do these audiobook publishers do NO RESEARCH at all? Is it really OK to mangle the Afrikaans quotes so badly that one has to burst out laughing? Is it OK to have a phony accent that makes a South African cringe? I have lived in Johannesburg all my life and I never heard anyone speaking like the white man from the reformatory. These words occur often throughout the novel, and every time they are used I wince. "Veld" is pronounced felt (as in heartfelt). How do you rate a classic novel of all time, that is well read, but the narrator gets the names wrong? "Sophiatown" is NOT promounced SOfiah-town, but so-FIRE-town. “Cry the Beloved Country” gives one some idea of what life must have been like for Nelson Mandela. ![]() Again, one is reminded of Mandela’s early life, his militancy and imprisonment. Paton creates a few white characters with a growing understanding of the consequence of discrimination while subtly injecting a more militant black movement. “Cry, the Beloved Country” begs the question of what is right and infers much of South Africa’s suppression was driven by white’ fear but, in broader context, Paton reveals the complex and insidious evil of discrimination. The fictional Kumalo and real Mandela did the best they could do which is better than 99% of the human race. Life is full of compromise full of good and evil. It is less brutal than Wright’s “Native Son” or Morrison’s “Beloved” but it strikes at the heart of apartheid and the insidious nature of discrimination and slavery. Alan Paton’s book is an update to “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. In listening to “Cry, the Beloved Country”, one should remember it was published in 1948. If you don’t care to let the tears roll and be gay at the beauty of new and true human relationships, this book is for you! I will therefore forgive him his terrible Zulu and Afrikaans pronunciations… completely. The British actor, Michael York reads this story with so much pathos it feels like an act of love. It is indeed heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time. It is also deeply religious and speaks to the soul. Everybody should listen or read it at least once in their life. ![]() But miracles do happen in the same way that the darkest clouds bring the best rain. To say the least, this is heavy and like the chief of Ixopo I am not sure if we as South Africans have the answer yet. Yet, Paton doesn’t give easy answers – even political answers – to a country deep in pain, but let you cry out with him, “Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika!” (God save Africa!). I am amazed how love and understanding is born out of hate. I am stunned as how Paton draws you in, let you bleed emotionally with Mfundisi (Reverend) Stephen Khumalo and his ‘opposite,’ James Jarvis. Paton sketches the contrasts of South Africa and the opinions of the different racial groups towards living together so accurate that the book has the feel of a documentary on the one hand, but driven by a deeply moving story arranged into three acts which can be summarised like this, act 1: the prodigal son goes to the forbidden place and his father goes in search of him act 2: what if the son wants to return, but he cannot because he is corrupted? act 3: a loss of innocence or an opportunity to renew. The story is gripping and lavishly beautiful. ![]() It felt as if I walked into the book… a book that was banned by the then Apartheid government. I am astonished that the places (suburbs, townships, shacks, even the Midlands of Kwa-Zulu Natal) as painted by Alan Paton are so easily recognised. Something resonates with my soul as I see so much of this pre-Apartheid world still alive in the Johannesburg of today. I live in Johannesburg, I am a minister of religion, I am an Afrikaner and a Policeman. The more things change the more it stays the same. A word painting: gripping, breathtaking & moving
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