Alan Paton Libri

This world-renowned writer views the spiritual dilemmas of twentieth-century man and offers his affirmation of Christian faith

Ah, But Your Land is Beautiful is set in the 1950s, the time of the Passive Resistance campaign, the Sophiatown removals, the emergence of the South African Liberal Party and the early stages of the Nationalist government in power.

The story follows a young white South African police lieutenant who faces severe repercussions after defying strict racial relationship laws. As he grapples with societal judgment, familial pressure, and his own internal conflicts, he embarks on a challenging journey of self-discovery and resilience in a deeply divided world. The narrative explores themes of love, identity, and the struggle against oppressive societal norms.

In the city of Johannesburg a father seeks his delinquent son. His search takes him through a labyrinth of murder, prostitution, racial hatred and, ultimately, reconciliation.

"Stephen Kumalo, a church minister, receives a letter that changes his life. He must leave his village and travel to the city of Johannesburg, where his sister is ill and his son is lost. He has never been so far from home, and he is worried about what he wil find there - but the situation is much worse than the could have imagined." - back cover.

The collection features ten poignant short stories that explore the deep injustices faced in South Africa. Through a blend of compassion and despair, the distinguished author delivers powerful narratives that reflect the social and political struggles of his homeland, offering both insight and emotional depth.

Short stories set in the South Africa of Alan Paton's "Cry The Beloved Country"Stories:Debbie Go Home; Ha'penny; The Divided House; Life for a Life;Death of a Tsotsi; The Worst Thing of his Life; The Waste Land; A Drink in the Passage; Sponono; The Elephant-Shooter

This widely acclaimed and influential volume is now available in a greatly revised and expanded twenty-fifth anniversary edition that places the monumental religious struggle against South African apartheid into a larger and instructive global setting. De Gruchy's authoritative and newly updated account of Christian complicity with and then resistance to one of the world's most notoriously repressive regimes holds indispensable lessons and "dangerous memories" for all concerned about evil, justice, and racial reconciliation.