Alan Paton

Alan Stewart Paton was a South African writer and social reformer. Born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province on January 11, 1903, Paton was the son of a civil servant. He was educated at the University of Natal where he earned a Bachelor of Science.

As a teacher, Paton developed a keen interest in the social and racial problems of South Africa. Paton met Dorrie Francis Lusted while teaching at Ixopo High School and the two were married in 1928 and stayed together until her death in 1967. They raised two sons.

Paton met Dorrie Francis Lusted while teaching at Ixopo High School and the two were married in 1928 and stayed together until her death in 1967. They raised two sons.From 1935 to 1948 he was principal of the Deipkloof Reformatory for delinquent boys near Johannesburg where he introduced many enlightened reforms. Paton received great critical and popular acclaim for his first novel, "Cry, The Beloved Country" (1948) which is distinguished for

From 1935 to 1948 he was principal of the Deipkloof Reformatory for delinquent boys near Johannesburg where he introduced many enlightened reforms.

Paton received great critical and popular acclaim for his first novel, "Cry, The Beloved Country" (1948) which is distinguished for it's compassionate treatment of those caught up in the racial conflicts of South Africa. The work was made into an opera, "Lost in the Stars" (1949) with music by the German-American composer Kurt Weill and, under the original title, into a motion picture in 1952.

Paton's second novel, "Too Late to Phalarope" (1953), his short stories, "Tales From a Troubled Land" (1961) and his later novel, "Ah, But Your Land Is Beautiful" (1982) also deal with racial tensions in South African society. He also published two nonfiction works dealing with apartheid. Paton was a founder and president of the Liberal party of South Africa.

Paton died on April 12, 1988 at the age of 85 in Durban, Natal. An award, the Alan Paton Award for non-fiction is annually given in his honor to this day.