Alan Paton, author of “Cry, the Beloved Country” and founder member of the Liberal Party, dies

Alan Paton is one of South Africa's most celebrated authors. His most renowned novel 'Cry, the Beloved Country', which was published in 1948 is still in print. Paton was a founding member of the Liberal Party and was much involved in South African politics and efforts at social reform. In 1953, he went on to lead the party. Paton often felt divided in his calling, and he is quoted as saying "My whole life has been a struggle between the writer and the activist, and it has not stopped" In April 1988, Paton was diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the throat. He died in Durban on 12 April 1988.