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

Excellent

I enjoyed listening to this recording. The reader helped bring the story to life and helped me get past some of the African words that I did not know how to pronounce.

Contemplating and Timeless

This is one of the rare works of literature I would turn to again and again. The message is one of faith, morality and humanity.

Great Classic

This book title has been on my reading list for years along with other classics that I’ve heard about in my life and wanted to read before leaving this earth.

This is a great story, and Michael York does an amazing job bringing to life the various characters.

I was not disappointed in its greatness or its message about the trials of life, with all of its truth, and all of its consequences- great and small, about forgiveness and mercy - both spoken and unspoken. There is indeed joy after pain if you are open to learning the lessons this journey of life offers.

Great novel, some problems with the narration

More than 70 years after its publication, Paton's novel is still poignant and relevant. It clearly deserves to be considered a classic. Unfortunately, this audio production is marred by some annoying mispronunciations (especially placenames and isiZulu/Afrikaans words). I expect these errors will only bother the few listeners who actually know how the words are supposed to be pronounced, but they are regrettable, given that the narrator's performance was really good overall.

Wonderful story

A really beautiful story with lots of depth and emotion, definitely worth every minute. Would recommend to anyone interested in learning some history too.

incredible book

truly one of the best books I have ever read. marvelous narrator. the power of the writing is such that the most ordinary scene is elevated to a level of deep meaning. makes modern works which have recieved great New York Times reviews seem absolutely shallow and poorly written when compared to this masterpiece. Cry the Beloved Country makes it clear how great and transcendent the best literature can be.

A moving and timeless story of hope and compassion

I was expecting a story of the evilness and injustice in an apartheid South Africa, and while there was that, what I really heard was a moving story of hope, personal tragedy, and triumph over tragedy. Its a wonderful story of good people working beyond the expectations and rules of a divided culture. The story of the "broken tribes" and broken land is as timely now as it was then. It is truly timeless in the stories of the lives of the people and how they were affected by a unsustainble social system and economy. The characters are rich and interesting.
I was initially put off by the voice of the narrator - his British accent is a very stuffy, old fashioned "World War II BBC" accent. But then that is the era of the book. His other "voices", Zulu and Afrikaans, are rich and wonderful to listen to. This was outstanding, and I'm sure I will listen to it again.

Blessed are They That Mourn . . .

Poetic, sad, beautiful . . . transcending time, Cry, the Beloved Country, is as relevant today as it was in 1948 when Alan Paton wrote it . . . the simple lives of the South African people, their faith, their struggles and resilience . . . poured out in a rhythmic flowing verse that pierces the heart . . . strips away all pretense . . . a humble black pastor, a prodigal son gone to the city, gone wrong . . . way wrong . . . and his father, heartbroken, searching him out, fearing what he will find . . . and never making excuses for his son's sin . . . but ever loving, pining for him . . . As circumstances bring native black Afrikaans up against white people in a time of Apartheid, I am amazed and humbled, that this book is not in the least political or racially motivated. The overarching theme is love, even in the face of evil, character, even when things are most difficult, humility even when others do not see you as their equal, perseverance, when there is no rain, when there is no milk, when there is no help . . . and gratitude to God for even the smallest of blessings. This is one of the most important books of our time. Everyone should read/hear it.

Bad casting

Michael York has a beautiful calming voice. So soothing that I kept zoning out and I don't believe it to be the fault of the story. Plus the pronunciations of the towns and non-english words were incorrect and so frequent that it felt very jarring. Would try to listen to this book again with another narrator. and would listen to Michael York again reading an English Classic.

Still so powerful and beautiful.

I listened to this while visiting South Africa for first time. Still so relevant in these early post-Apartheid years. Great beauty and power in the words and the narration.