Cry, the Beloved Country

Reviews

“A beautiful novel, rich, firm, and moving…its writing is so fresh, its projection of character so immediate and full, its events so compelling and its understanding so compassionate that to read the book is to share intimately, even to the point of catharsis, in the grave human experience treated.”

“One of the best novels of our time.”

“The marvelous British actor Michael York brings the white South Africans, with their idealism, their prejudices, and their own provinciality, vividly to life. His native African characters, perhaps inevitably, sound more Anglo than tribal, but it makes small difference. With the haunting, incantatory rhythms of its language and the human complexity of its story, this is a polished, elegant production of a true classic.”

“This great classic…still remains relevant today for providing understanding of how the mining business destroyed native families and the African tribal system—resulting in urban migration, poverty and crime still with us today. Despite many heartbreaking events, the story ends on a hopeful note. Actor York creates fully voiced characters—young, old, male and female—that enhance this important work and make it a spellbinding tale.”

“With a deep yet gentle voice rounded out by his English accent, Michael York captures the tone and energy of this novel. His rhythmic narration proves hypnotizing. From the fierce love of Kumalo to the persuasive rhetoric of Kumalo’s brother and the solemn regret of Absalom, York injects soul into characters tempered by their socioeconomic status as black South Africans.”

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