Essay – Cry, The Beloved Country The controversial novel, Cry the Beloved country, originally published in 1948 by Alan Paton has received just as much praise as condemnation. The novel, thought long since antiquated by some, remains a classic still, after 50 years. Paton’s novel has been continually critiqued, compared, and contrasted against not only his own later work, but also with other South African novelists Paton, who grew up in Pietermartizburg, Natal, South Africa; always enjoyed …showed first 75 words of 1166 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1166 total…experiences that these people actually went through. Paton closes the novel as Absalom Kumalo is being put to death. The novel closes at dawn, a dawn that means the death for Absalom Kumalo. But this “dawn” also means the dawn of a new era. It means hope for South Africa. This new dawn will show the goodness possible for all mankind. It will show the possibility that all men can overcome fear, hate, and racism.