Cry, the Beloved Country (Oprah's Book Club)

Book Description

Cry, the Beloved Country is a beautifully told and profoundly compassionate story of the Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his son Absalom, set in the troubled and changing South Africa of the 1940s. The book is written with such keen empathy and understanding that to read it is to share fully in the gravity of the characters' situations. It both touches your heart deeply and inspires a renewed faith in the dignity of mankind. Cry, the Beloved Country is a classic tale, passionately African, timeless and universal, and beyond all, selfless.

Customer Reviews:

South Africa - 60 Years Past.......2007-09-01

Although this book is about 60 years old I just read it for the 1st time. It is a keeper and a treasure. It is a book that you will want to revisit often at least for awhile. I find the book to be filled with spiritual messages. You will see the making of aparthaid long before it was abolished. The story itself is quite suspenseful and Paton's writing style is unique. I like it.

So Glad I Discovered This Book!.......2007-07-26

The story of one man's quest to find his son and to seek forgiveness. I had never heard of this book prior to the 1001 Books To Read list (it had not been required reading in high school), and I am sorry I didn't read earlier. This book is one of the most memorable books I've ever read, and I know I will look forward to re-reading it again one day.

I understand some here have not taken kindly to Mr. Paton's writing style, but I found it engaging and very easy to read. His descriptive style, for me, was far from boring and kept me involved in the story to the point where I could envision all that was happening. For me, his words just flowed so evenly.

The story may be a little dated for today's politics being as the novel was written in 1946; however, it provides a thought-provoking point of view of the beginnings of apartheid in South Africa. The issues are complex, and the answers are not always easy or simple, but the effect on people is amazing and long-lasting. Mr. Paton describes how every facet of life is touched through this horrible policy. The dilemma of complexity is driven home when the stories of two men, Kumalo and Jarvis - one black, the other white - come together. Sympathies for both men are strong and the reader can find their hearts wrenched at what happens simply because that's the way it is done.

Well done and thoroughly enjoyed!

Great Simplicity; Great Depth; Remarkable Humanity.......2007-07-11

Many friends recommended CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY to me over the years, but it was not until May of this year that the book came my way in the form a gift. I picked it up one evening and--much to my own amazement--read it in a single sitting. Yes, it really is that good.

Published in 1948, the book tells a simple story. Zulu-born Stephen Kumalo is the elderly Christian priest of a tiny church who has seldom set foot outside his rural South Africa village; he is both uncertain and frightened when he summoned to Johannesburg to attend his sister, who is in great crisis. Once in the city, however, he determines to locate his son Absalom, who also lives in Johannesburg and from whom he has received no news for quite some time. Kumalo conducts his search with a mounting sense of despair--and ultimately finds himself in the midst of both personal tragedy and public scandal.

Although the story is grim, the novel itself is not. Alan Payton (1903-1988) wrote several novels, but CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY is best-known and most widely read work, and much of its power rests on the remarkable way in which he styles his prose: it possesses a shining simplicity that not only seems to capture the vocal cadence of South Africa but also allows the reader to see through the novel's several levels with a remarkable sense of clarity.

Much of the novel's power resides in its portrait of South Africa in this particular era. The word "apartheid" had not attained its full implication in 1948, but Paton not only identifies the almost accidental seeds of apartheid, he forecasts the ultimate result as well. Paton also endows the novel with a very clear idea of what Christianity should be in actual practice as opposed to what it too often is in actual fact, and although the story is indeed dark, the humanity involved is such that one never feels the darkness cannot be dispelled.

The older I become, the less inclined I am to keep books; these days I read them and give them away, and new permanent additions to my library are rare. But CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY is a keeper, a book I've no doubt I'll return to again and again.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer
With Thanks to Kate, Whose Gift This Book Was

Masterpiece of Prose.......2007-06-13

I didn't think I would like this book. I have never seen a writing style like this, so it was a little strange to start. However, I quickly changed my mind. It was a wonderful book that is uplifting and thought-provoking. I cried at the end of it because the story was so beautiful. This is a must read.

Cry the Beloved.......2007-05-15

Alan Paton's Cry the Beloved Country is an eye opening look into 1940's South Africa. The main character pastor Stephen Kumalo tries to save his family from the trap that is the city of Johannesburg. Once in Johannesburg Kumalo quickly realizes hard life is in the white dominated society and how easy it is to fall into the trap. The book does start off a bit slow but by the middle it will have you sucked in. Paton vividly shows how crupt people can be but also shows how good hearted people can be. If you are looking for a book with emotion and life lessons this is a must read.

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Cry, the Beloved Country [UNABRIDGED]
Alan Paton
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0786188987
Release Date: 2003-10-01

Product Description

A work of searing beauty, Cry, the Beloved Country is the deeply moving story of Stephen Kumalo, a Zulu pastor, and his son, Absalom. It is also the story of a land and a people riven by racial injustice, reflecting the troubled and changing South Africa of the 1940s. The book is written with such keen compassion and understanding that the listener shares fully in the gravity of the characters situations. Alan Paton said of his book: It is a song of love for ones far distant country. Thus, it is a tale that is passionately African while also being timeless and universal. But ultimately, Cry, the Beloved Country is a work of love and hope, of courage and tragedy, born of the dignity of man.

Cry, the Beloved Country (Oprah's Classics Book Club Selections)

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India's Review of Cry the Beloved Country

Cry, the Beloved Country (Oprah's Classics Book Club Selections)
Alan Paton
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

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Customer Reviews:

India's Review of Cry the Beloved Country.......2007-05-03

After reading this book I realize what a great life I have living in America. I've always read about how bad things were in South Africa, but this book was a true "smack in the face"! Segregation was a major issue in this text. It seemed as Black South Africans and White South Africans just couldn't make peace. I do recommend this book to everyone to see what these people had to go through in everyday. At the end I truly understood Cry, The Beloved Country as the people of South Africa cried out for peace.

Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country (Cliffs Notes)

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Wonderfully deep and compelling
WONDERFUL, INSPIRING, PHENOMENAL
Bollox
I thought that the morals and themes were good and true.
Not for most teenagers.

Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country (Cliffs Notes)
Richard O. Peterson , and Eva Fitzwater
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764585010

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into critical elements and ideas within classic works of literature.

CliffsNotes on Cry, the Beloved Country takes you into a compassionately told story set in the troubled and changing South Africa in the 1940s.

Focusing on a people who are caught between two worlds -- the old with its rituals and and respect and the new with its lack of values and order -- this study guide explores a novel of social protest through character analyses and critical essays. Other features that help you figure out this important work include

Profile of the author Alan Paton's life and work
Historical background of the troubled and changing South Africa of the 1940s
Character web and in-depth analyses of the major roles
Summaries and commentaries for each chapter within the book
Review questions and suggestions for theme topics

Classic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Download Description

Cry, the Beloved Country is a beautifully told and profoundlycompassionate story of the Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his sonAbsalom, set in the troubled and changing South Africa of the 1940s.

This concise supplement to Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country helpsstudents understand the overall structure of the work, actions andmotivations of the characters and the social and cultural perspective ofthe author.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully deep and compelling.......2004-08-30

I am an English teacher and a book lover to the extreme. I use cliff notes in my class to aid students with ideas and concepts in books that might otherwise be lost on them. I like the fact that the summaries are limited on this particular version, so the students are forced to read and reread to comprehend. The book itself is one of the most beautiful, well-written, symbolic books that I have ever read. I suggest using it in a unit on South Africa, apartheid/segregation, racism, Black History, or perhaps as a tool on train-of-thought writing. The book is for mature readers--average or immature students will find the book "boring" because they are unable to comprehend the depth and meaning of the novel. The Cliff Notes should help somewhat with these students--but some could never appreciate the work even with the supplement.
For those who are not teachers, and are reading for enjoyment, the cliff notes are also good just to reinforce the concepts and make your reading experience easier. However, be sure to actually read the beautiful novel itself--the harsh truths and beautiful symbols of this book are aure to enlighten.

WONDERFUL, INSPIRING, PHENOMENAL.......1999-11-16

I personnally thought this book was great! And, that's suprising cuz I had to do it for an english assignment, and yet, i even loved the book (that's rare!) I reccomend it to all!

Bollox.......1999-11-09

If anyone can show me a worse book I will be amazed. Yes I suppose it had a good message but really he could have done it in a more interesting way. Really George Orwell could do it so why can't he. Anyone feel like chucking rotten eggs at Patons door? Yes I thought so.

I thought that the morals and themes were good and true........1999-10-12

I thought that the book was very good overall. It did have drawbacks though. Some of the things I thought were not very interesting. But I thought that the court scenes and racisim scenes were very well written. I could very well imagine myself in the position of characters. The characters were good also. There is a lot in it about fear. It describes the fear and suffering the feel very well.

Not for most teenagers........1999-09-09

Seeing these other reviews, I felt I had to add my own, since none of them were really nice. The book wasn't the most thrilling for most of the gum snapping rabble that high schools are full of. But for more mature people it was interesting. Don't go by the reviews from people who tell u it sux and they type like that.

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Heartbreaking, Must Read Story
My Recommendation for Cry, The Beloved Country

Cry, the Beloved Country
Alan Paton
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0099766817

Customer Reviews:

Heartbreaking, Must Read Story.......2006-07-31

"Cry, the Beloved Country" gives us an inside look at South African apartheid in the 1940's. We live this story through the eyes of a poor Zulu pastor who decides to travel from his small village to Johannesburg in hopes to save his son from mounting troubles. The migration of gold mine workers to the cities has increased the crime rate due to the separation of families. Exploitation of these laborers has caused a political unrest in Johannesburg.

Stephen Kumalo, our Zulu pastor, has to question his own parenting and lifestyle when he sees the poor decision making of his own son. Stephen meets a varied barrage of people, some who help and some who choose silence as the easiest way to stay out of trouble, when searching for his son.

"Cry, the Beloved Country" is a must read book. The story gave me insight on this foreign culture and the hardships experienced by not only the exploited workers of the South African gold mines, but the destroyed families of said workers. This book is mandatory criterion for schools in South Africa and it is worthy of this praise.

My Recommendation for Cry, The Beloved Country.......2005-12-04

I read this book for an English class and was hesitant about reading it. Right from the start Paton hooks the reader in by using descriptive language and imagery. Paton really makes you feel for Umfundisi, his family, and especially his son. Umfundisi is a pastor at a church in, small town, Ixopo. His brothers' family, his own son, and his sister have gone to Johannesburg, a big city falling into the despair from crime and hatred. Umfundisi gets word that his sister is ill and must travel there to get her. Both his trip there and his experiences and hardships once in the city strengthen him and his faith in people and God. Although he is there in Johannesburg to retrieve his sister, he ends up contacting his brother whose son has gotten into trouble with Umfundisis' son. Once he has found his sister, he travels all around Johannesburg and surrounding towns to find his son. Even though only a small amount of time passes in Johannesburg, Umfundisi ages immensely form the trials he encounters. Once home he has a new person to raise and realizes that his small town is there for him no matter what happened in Johannesburg. The members of his church rejoiced when he got home telling him that no other pastor is quite like there own. I recommend this book to people who need to strengthen their faith in others and in themselves. If you want a book that will make you cry at one point but at the end makes your heart fell good this is the book for you.

Understanding Cry, the Beloved Country: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series)

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Understanding Cry, the Beloved Country: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series)
Ngwarsungu Chiwengo
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Cry, the Beloved Country (Oprah's Book Club)

ASIN: 0313335087

Book Description

Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country (1948) is one of the most influential works of South African literature. Appearing at a time when the South African political system was being increasingly questioned, the novel drew worldwide attention to the horrors of apartheid, a political institution promoting segregation and discrimination. However, because historical and social issues figure prominently in the novel, it is sometimes difficult for modern students to understand. But because of the enduring plague of racism, it is all the more important for students to come to terms with the issues Paton raises. This book overviews Paton's novel and relates it to its social and political contexts. The book begins with an analysis of the novel and gives attention to adaptations and films based on it. It then overviews South African history. This is followed by a selection of primary documents related to the origin of apartheid, the history and work conditions of miners, the social and economic conditions in urban and rural areas, the challenges facing South African women, and the state of post-apartheid South Africa. While the book does much to illuminate Paton's novel, it additionally helps students use the novel to explore important social concerns still present in society.

Cry, the Beloved Country (Bloom's Guides)

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Cry, the Beloved Country (Bloom's Guides)
Alan Paton
Manufacturer: Chelsea House Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0791075729

Book Description

Alan Patton's Cry, The Beloved Country, part of Chelsea House Publishers' Bloom's Guides collection, presents concise critical excerpts from Cry, The Beloved Country to provide a scholarly overview of the work. This comprehensive study guide also features "The Story Behind the Story" which details the conditions under which Cry, The Beloved Country was written. This title also includes a short biography on Alan Patton and a descriptive list of characters.

Cry, the Beloved Country: A Novel of South Africa (Twayne's Masterwork Studies, No 69)

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This book was very hard for me to understand at first
Touching!

Cry, the Beloved Country: A Novel of South Africa (Twayne's Masterwork Studies, No 69)
Edward Callan
Manufacturer: Twayne Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

This book was very hard for me to understand at first.......1998-12-31

In my honors english class, I had to read this book and do a book talk on it. At first, I thought it would be very fun to read because it was easy for me to understand, but as I kept reading it, the book was boring. Now, I have to do an essay on the author's purpose and I've been going through some comments on what other people said about the book, and I saw something touching. Not knowingly, this book touched my heart all of a sudden...

Touching!.......1998-03-16

When I first saw the cover of the book in my Literature class,I thought it would be some serious,weirdo novel....and I was right..it is serious but not weird!It was simply amazing.I don;t think I'ver read a book that touched me so much!It was something that provided me a lot of insight about the country of South Arica and it's problems.It made me fall in love with the country!

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CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY
ALAN PATON
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: B000BOLHCU

Alan Paton Reads "Cry, the Beloved Country"

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Alan Paton Reads "Cry, the Beloved Country"
Alan Paton
Manufacturer: Caedmon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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What role will the current evolution of banking systems play in the newly adopted EU countries during the historic challenges following enlargement? This book, a blend of economics and political economy, offers a systematic analysis of the current trends in financial intermediation in the countries of the newly enlarged Europe, with particular focus on those policies taken by foreign banks on the one hand, and by regulatory and supervisory authorities on the other. The authors argue that their research has led to one conclusion: in order to enter the EU, the accession countries needed to increase the efficiency of their economic systems rapidly through liberalization and privatization. The book assesses whether the presence of foreign banks will contribute to long term economic growth and financial stability, and how the architecture of banking regulations and supervision should be designed. As a multidisciplinary work, though principally economics, the book will appeal to scholars and academics of politics and law. It also has particular relevance for regulators and supervisory institutions, as well as professionals including bankers, financial operators and also legal compliance officers.

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