Alan Paton Biography

Best remembered as the author of Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton's reputation extends beyond the fields of fiction and literature to his roles as a teacher, prison reformer, and politician. Inthis new biography, Peter Alexander sets out to explore not only the public figure, but also the private man about whom much less is known.Drawing on unpublished manuscripts, intimate love letters, and diary extracts, he paints a picture of a man whose greatness arose from moral struggles no less profound than those that afflicted histroubled country.Readership: Students of South African literature, history, and politics.'an excellent biography of an interesting and important man' -Financial Times'This thorough and widely researched biography is the most authoritative work yet on Paton.'-Donald Woods, Sunday Times'For admirers of Paton, it is an affirmation of his brilliance; while for the uninitiated, it is a loving portrait of a remarkable man, an extraordinary time anda strange and tormented land.' -Samantha Weinberg, The Times