Cry, the Beloved Country

By: Alan Paton

Narrated by: Michael York

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the most distinguished novel that has come out of South Africa in the 20th century, and it is one of the most important novels that has appeared anywhere in modern times. Cry, the Beloved Country is in some ways a sad book; it is an indictment of a social system that drives native races into resentment and crime; it is a story of Fate, as inevitable, as relentless, as anything of Thomas Hardy's. Beautifully wrought with high poetic compassion, Cry, the Beloved Country is more than just a story, it is a profound experience of the human spirit. And beyond the intense and insoluble personal tragedy, it is the story of the beautiful and tragic land of South Africa, its landscape, its people, and its bitter racial ferment and unrest.

Public Domain (P)1993 Blackstone Audiobooks

Not what I expected

When I got this book, I assumed it would be just an account of atrocities, and although the book could be classified as a tragedy, that's not its whole point. There are many characters who are positive role models dealing with difficult circumstances.

I was also surprised to learn to what extent modern South Africa's problems existed when this book was written.

seiwald

Best audio book I've listened to. I loved the reading and I loved the story. Heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Cry The Beloved Country

Any additional comments?

Cry The Beloved Country is written by Alan Paton and narrated by Michael York. The unabridged audiobook is close to ten hours of listening.

The story isn’t what I expected. It is not a soapbox rant about the Apartheid. In fact, Apartheid is not mentioned. Keep in mind this book was published in 1948; Apartheid wasn’t formally enforced by the government of South Africa until 1948. Although racial segregation is present, it is similar to that of the United States prior to the American Civil War. Acknowledged, accepted, a way of life, and there exists a quiet undercurrent of needed change. In fact, a hero of a Cry The Beloved Country character is Abraham Lincoln. According to the characters of this book, many people, black and white, are opposed to the separateness and financial inequities. The abhorrent poverty of blacks was an abomination given the mining wealth of South Africa, and there were many, including powerful whites, that knew change was needed and inevitable.

This is the background of Cry The Beloved Country. A black man goes on trial for the murder of a white man. This simple plot is the foundation of Paton’s exploration into familial bonds, deep friendships, loyalties, and of course, the upcoming winds of change in South Africa.

The locale of South Africa was the reason, I believe, that Michael York was a choice for narration, given his accent. There is difficulty however, with regard to any changes in the voices of individual characters, particularly noticeable in authenticity of ethnicity. There is no change in the voice when different characters are speaking, men or women, adults or children, blacks or whites. York simply reads the story aloud. For me this takes a bit from the story, in that I was completely unfamiliar with it other than to be aware that Cry The Beloved Country is highly rated and admired. Until Paton explicitly identifies him as so, I had no idea the main character, Reverend Kumalo, was a black man. This is a narration problem, in my opinion. Beyond this, pace and tempo are fine, a decent production.

If you’re looking for an angst-ridden racially motivated diatribe, this book is not for you. If you are interested in a very thought provoking look at 1948-pre-apartheid South Africa, this book is excellent.

A Classic

Rich story. Very insightful on the political history of a region.

Was recommended by a friend, did not disappoint. I recommend it.

Bar-none the best audio book I've ever listened to...

...or expect to listen to. I've listened to many audiobooks and out of those could list several favourites. But this beats them all. Michael York is perfect, matching the humanity, gravity, and poetry of the words. The story is both gut wrenching and life affirming. It is honest about the darkness of life while showing hope where true hope is found.

A WONDERFUL READ

I very much appreciate the strength in the reader's voice, he allows the book to have great strength through each character. I recommend for a long plane or car ride. Cry, the Beloved Country made me cry, scream of heartbreak and smile.

Powerful and Poetic.

At times this book brought me to tears and at other times I felt filled with joy and hope. Mr Paton wrote a story of pain, and difficulty, with beautiful, poetic and often lyrical words that made me stop reading and review the words just to experience them again. I finished it a few days ago and have avoided writing a review because it is one of those books which I have no idea how to review. I didn't really enjoy the story but I don't think that one is meant to enjoy something which exposes so much about humanity. The writing is exquisite and the story is timely even though the specifics of apartheid ended many years ago. This is a book that everyone should read.

Magnificent

One of the most touching stories I've ever experienced. York's reading was masterfully executed. Beautiful!

Wish narrator were black

Interesting book about South Africa in the mid-20th Century. For me, a white US citizen in 2020, it gave some good background into what life was like there at that time. The main character is a black Anglican minister, living a very simple life in a remote, impoverished village. Through his experience, the reader gets a taste of the difficulties of life for blacks at that time, when many young blacks were abandoning the countryside to live in the big cities. The book portrays city life as one great hell hole, tempting black youths into crime, prostitution, alcohol, etc. The one black city character who is "successful" is a politician whose success is unfortunately compromised by unethical actions.

While the author, a white South African, seems sympathetic to the difficulties faced by Black South Africans, he does not address the root causes of their suffering as stemming from colonialism, white domination, or structural racism. The few white characters in the book are portrayed sympathetically and the implication at the end of the book is that if white South Africans would only care for the Blacks, teach them how to farm, offer them charity, then everything will get better.

[I listened to this as an audio book read by Michael York. He did a fine job, expertly (to my ears) pronouncing all the South African place and people names. I guess the choice of a white male to read makes some kind of sense, as the author was a white male, but since the main character is black, I wish it had been narrated by a black South African]

Perfect Voice

The voice was perfect for the subject matter: tone, inflection, pace, emphases. The book would not have been as rich done differently.