Difference between revisions of "Alan Paton"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Alan Stewart Paton]] (1903-1988). Writer, teacher, reformatory principal, influential novelist and anti-apartheid activist. Best known for his seminal novel ''Cry, the Beloved Country'' (1948). | [[Alan Stewart Paton]] (1903-1988). Writer, teacher, reformatory principal, influential novelist and anti-apartheid activist. Best known for his seminal novel ''Cry, the Beloved Country'' (1948). | ||
| + | == Biography == | ||
| − | + | He was born in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal on 11 January 1903. | |
| + | |||
| + | An educationalist by profession, Alan Paton was Principal of the Diepkloof Reformatory in Johannesburg before his retirement. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Paton leapt to international fame with the publication of his first novel, the brilliant "Cry the Beloved Country" in 1948. The novel has been translated many times and has been filmed twice. | ||
| − | + | He was a founder member of the Liberal Party and its leader between 1955 and its dissilusion in 1968. He died in Durban on 12 April 1988. | |
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
His novel ''[[Cry, the Beloved Country]] '' (1948) became an internationally acclaimed work, and has been adapted to stage and screen a number of times under its original title, but also as a musical titled ''[[Lost in the Stars]]'' (by Maxwell Anderson with music by Kurt Weill, 1949). | His novel ''[[Cry, the Beloved Country]] '' (1948) became an internationally acclaimed work, and has been adapted to stage and screen a number of times under its original title, but also as a musical titled ''[[Lost in the Stars]]'' (by Maxwell Anderson with music by Kurt Weill, 1949). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Paton's second novel ''[[Too Late the Phalarope]]'' also joined the best-seller lists, and it too, has been dramatised and the play produced on Broadway. Recently Alan Paton's play ''[[The Last Journey]]'' was produced in Lusaka to mark the opening of the new Inter-racial theatre there. "Mkhumbane" is Mr. Paton's first musical play. | ||
He also collaborated on a number of other theartrical projects, including: | He also collaborated on a number of other theartrical projects, including: | ||
Revision as of 17:41, 11 July 2025
Alan Stewart Paton (1903-1988). Writer, teacher, reformatory principal, influential novelist and anti-apartheid activist. Best known for his seminal novel Cry, the Beloved Country (1948).
Contents
Biography
He was born in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal on 11 January 1903.
An educationalist by profession, Alan Paton was Principal of the Diepkloof Reformatory in Johannesburg before his retirement.
Paton leapt to international fame with the publication of his first novel, the brilliant "Cry the Beloved Country" in 1948. The novel has been translated many times and has been filmed twice.
He was a founder member of the Liberal Party and its leader between 1955 and its dissilusion in 1968. He died in Durban on 12 April 1988.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
His novel Cry, the Beloved Country (1948) became an internationally acclaimed work, and has been adapted to stage and screen a number of times under its original title, but also as a musical titled Lost in the Stars (by Maxwell Anderson with music by Kurt Weill, 1949).
Paton's second novel Too Late the Phalarope also joined the best-seller lists, and it too, has been dramatised and the play produced on Broadway. Recently Alan Paton's play The Last Journey was produced in Lusaka to mark the opening of the new Inter-racial theatre there. "Mkhumbane" is Mr. Paton's first musical play.
He also collaborated on a number of other theartrical projects, including:
- the musical presentation Mkhumbane (with Todd Matshikiza, 1960)
- Sponono (with Krishna Shah, 1962).
- Man and Poet at the Inaugural Festival of the 1820 Settlers National Monument in 1974.
Sources
South African History Online [1].
Wikipedia [2].
Tucker, 1997.
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities P
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to Main Page
