at the University of the Witwatersrand who fought for justice, and Ernst Oppenheimer, who, as the leader of a very important mining group, could use his influence to improve the conditions of the miners.
The author incorporates in his story events that really happened as a result of financial and social injustice towards black miners and workers. These events are: the bus boycott; the development of Shanty Town; the discovery of gold at Odendaalsrust and the miners’ strike. Seen from this viewpoint, the novel is a true record of social injustice.
The author explains that he has added a glossary at the end of the novel to increase the reader’s knowledge and pronunciation of unfamiliar words. He also adds statistics about the composition and numbers of the population in South Africa and in Johannesburg at the time.
Test your knowledge and understanding:
Are the following statements true or false? Write true or false in the space provided next to the statements below.
•The valley where the Umzimkulu River runs exists. ________________________________
•The Umzimkulu is a big river. ________________________________
•The village of Ndotsheni exists. ________________________________
•The farm called “High Place” doesn’t exist. ________________________________
•The characters in the novel are real. ________________________________
•The author uses events that really took place in South Africa in the 1940s in his story. __________________________
The Author’s Note below show Paton’s continued concern that his readers should receive updated information about the composition and numbers of the South African population. The signature at the bottom of the note indicates that he was living in the province of Natal in South Africa when he wrote it.
The 1959 edition: updated facts and statistics
Paton updates the statistics about the South African population and its composition. He comments on the tremendous growth of Johannesburg. This city now has one-and-a-quarter million inhabitants. He informs the reader that Mr Harry Oppenheimer has succeeded Sir Ernst Oppenheimer, who died in 1958.
In his last Author’s Note Paton gives information about the novel. He informs the reader where he had written the novel; he explains how the novel got its title, what kind of book it is and what value the novel holds for him and his family.
The 1987 edition: The title, format and value of Cry, the Beloved Country
The author explains that the novel is about South Africa, but that it was not written in this country. It was written in Norway and in America. It was sent to American publishers. Maxwell Perkins, Senior Editor of the publisher Charles Scribner & Sons, accepted the script at once. He told Paton that the land, South Africa, was one of the most important characters in the novel. The author uses questions and answers to structure the rest of his note.
How did the novel get its title?
Paton had a little competition about finding a title for the novel with Aubrey and Marigold Burns, who typed and sent the novel to publishers. All three of them wrote the same title Cry, the Beloved Country on a piece of paper!
Where did the title come from?
The title came from three or four passages in the novel that have the words “Cry, the beloved country”. The author quotes the text of one of these passages in his note. The passage is in Book 1, Chapter 12 (p. 69 in your school edition). Paton explains that he communicates his own love for South Africa in this passage. He explains to the reader that he has used the technique of poetic licence (the freedom of a poet to change rules in order to make a story more effective). The quoted passage offers no suggestions about how one could prevent oneself from loving the country too deeply.
What kind of novel is it?
Paton answers this question by quoting from another book of his: For you the Departed, published in 1969 by Charles Scribner & Sons. He answers that Cry, the Beloved Country is a love song for South Africa which expresses his longing for his country and for an ideal land where there will be no destruction, death, sorrow or crying. He continues to explain that it is a story of the beauty – and extreme fear – of human life.
The value of the novel to him and to his family lies in its worldwide success as a novel. It changed his family’s lives by opening up new opportunities, which they grasped. It has enabled the author to continue writing. He ends this note by expressing his gratitude for the empowering effect that the novel has had on their lives.
Test your understanding:
Answer the questions below. Remember to practise writing in full sentences and to communicate clearly what you want to say.
1.Paton wrote messages in the format of Author’s Notes to his readers. What is the purpose of these messages?
2.What kind of novel is Cry, the Beloved Country, according to the author?
1.3 The purpose and format of the novel
When you want to send a message about what you are thinking or feeling to someone or to yourself, the type of message that you send depends on the reason why you are sending it. For example, you could write a note, an SMS, a WhatsApp or a Tweet or post something on Snapchat to your friends to communicate why you like or dislike the latest Top Hits playlist. You would use a different format to communicate your thoughts and feelings when you write an examination essay on “The Power of Money”. The purpose of the message determines its format.
Why did Paton write Cry, the Beloved Country?
Purpose: to advocate the need for social and political change.
He communicates a powerful message of love and compassion needed to change the suffering of a land and its people caused by social and political injustices in South Africa.
In which format did Paton choose to write his message?
Format: A novel
He wrote his message in the format of a novel. Although Paton says that Cry, the Beloved Country is a love song, it is not written in the form of a song nor a poem. Poetry, drama and short stories also express messages in text, but according to the rules or conventions of their specific kind of literature (or genre). The novel is a specific genre in the art of writing literature. It expresses the author’s message in prose; it uses words and sentences that are spoken and written in everyday communication. The sentences are organised in paragraphs, chapters and, in this novel, in books.
Historical novel
Cry, the Beloved Country is a historical novel. The novel describes real events and refers to real personages but only in so far as these form part of a story with a plot and fictional characters. Its setting is the 1940s in South Africa. It shows how segregation and the migrant labour system could destroy values of love, caring and respect. It also illustrates the struggle to uphold these values through forgiveness and reconciliation.
Racial segregation means the separation of races
