In addition to being a powerful story of fathers and sons, Cry, The Beloved Country is also a deep allegory of the underlying tensions and troubles of South Africa as a whole. It is the story of Stephen Kumalo, a black Anglican priest from a rural Natal town, and his search for his son, Absalom, in the city of Johannesburg. It was first published in New York in 1948 by Charles Scribner's Sons and in London by Jonathan Cape. Following his forced retirement from politics, Paton retired to Botha's Hill where he lived, peacefully, until his death.Ĭry, The Beloved Country is Paton's first novel and is widely considered his masterwork. He was noted for his peaceful opposition to the apartheid system. He remained the president of the SALP until its forced dissolution by the apartheid regime, due to the fact that both blacks and whites comprised its membership. In 1953 Paton founded the South African Liberal Party, which fought against the apartheid legislation introduced by the National Party. There, he met Aubrey and Marigold Burns, who read his manuscript and found a publisher for it. During his time in Norway, he began work on his first and most famous novel, Cry, The Beloved Country, which he would complete over the course of his journey, finishing it on Christmas Eve in San Francisco in 1946.

He toured Scandinavia, England, continental Europe, and the United States of America. During this time, he took a trip, at his own expense, to tour correctional facilities across the world.

Paton volunteered for service during World War II, but was refused. Significantly, of the more than 10,000 boys kept at the Reformatory during Paton's years at Diepkloof, less than one percent ever attempted to escape. Most notable among these were the open dormitory policy, the work permit policy, and the home visitation policy, all of which allowed boys interred at the Reformatory to gradually attain freedom, up to and including residing off the facility. During his tenure there he introduced controversially progressive reforms in order to, in his belief, create conditions where children of dangerous backgrounds would be motivated to become productive citizens. Soon after his marriage, he and Dorrie moved to another school back in Pietermaritzburg.įrom 1938 to 1945 Paton served as the principal director of the Diepkloof Reformatory for young offenders.

After graduating, he taught at a high school in Ixopo, where he met his first wife, Dorrie. After attending Maritzburg College, he studied for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Natal in his hometown, followed by a diploma in education. Paton was born in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, the son of a minor civil servant.

Cry the beloved country author