Alan Paton
1948
Around 260 pages
Two books in a row from non Western countries! We will return to stuffy Englishmen by the next entry, but it's nice to take a nice jaunt out of the US/Europe for a bit. I don't think they even mentioned the apartheid in public school, apparently reviewing the French and Indian War for the umpteenth is much more important.
In the isolated village of Ndotsheni, Reverend Stephen Kumalo receives a letter from a minister in Johannesburg, telling him that Stephen's sister Gertrude needs his help. Kumalo journeys to the city to support his sister, but also in the hopes of finding his son Absalom who he has not seen in many years.
I love how we start the story with the reverend in his village, so we get to share the experience of traveling with Kumalo to Johannesberg. It really drove home what the city looked like from Kumalo's perspective; it was like Lucy discovering Narnia. I enjoyed the story even before we got to the murder. Kumalo handled all his characters with nuance that is extremely difficult when tackling this subject.
One of the best novels we've had in awhile. First enjoyable novel in 1948!
RATING: *****
Interesting Facts:
Interesting Facts:
Adapted as a musical called Lost in the Stars in 1949.
Paton served as President of the Liberal Party of South Africa until its forced dissolution by the government in the late 1960s, because its membership allowed black people and white people.
UP NEXT: The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene
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