South Africa, a flourishing country on the southernmost tip of the continent of Africa, has a rich history that has been established over hundreds of years and has faced many political struggles of its own. One of the country’s greatest stories is illustrated perfectly in the novel, Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton.
Cry, the Beloved Country narrates the parson Stephen Kumalo’s complicated familial journey in the emerging city of Johannesburg. When Stephen is faced with the news that his sister has fallen ill and the request that he should visit immediately, he heads for the blossoming city that is so different from the countryside where he resides. Though faced with many challenges, Stephen keeps one thing in mind: reuniting with his son, sister, and brother who have been absent from his life for what seems like an eternity. Stephen navigates his way through the city, reuniting with his family only to unearth a world he has never before experienced. Stephen soon learns that not everything that glitters is gold in Johannesburg. Stephen is faced with a murder trial, the defendant being his only son Absalom. Will Stephen get to his son in time, or have the jaws of Johannesburg already consumed him?
Cry, the Beloved Country is more than meets the eye. Though the story mainly focuses on Stephen’s familial issues and the search for his son, it reveals all of the things that were happening in South Africa during the 1940s. The story examines the strikes, apartheid, native discrimination, and rising crime rates occurring throughout South Africa. The book shares an accurate narrative of the political climate of South Africa during the 1940s and is surely a historical piece of fiction.
Cry, the Beloved Country is an engaging read for all audiences and will continue to entertain generations of readers to come. Will you pick up this piece of South Africa’s history and learn for yourself?