Tales from a Troubled Land

by Alan Paton

From Simon & Schuster, Tales from a Troubled Land is Alan Paton's novel about the injustices of South Africa.

With a mixture of compassion and despair, this collection of ten short stories by the distinguished author of Cry, the Beloved Country speaks eloquently yet incisively of the injustices of the author's native land, South Africa.

Genres: Short Stories, Africa, Fiction, South Africa, African Literature, Literature, 20th Century

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Alan Stewart Paton was a South African writer and anti-apartheid activist. His works include the novels Cry, the Beloved Country (1948), Too Late the Phalarope (1953), and the short story The Waste Land.

Reviews

[Essam M. Al-Jassim · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب خفيف و ممتع لكاتب فذ و اكثر امتاعا. علاقتي بالان باتون ترجع الى اواخر تسعينيات القرن الماضي حينما قرأت له قصة قصيرة بعنوان "هابيني" و هي لفظة مرخمة من كلمة "هاف بني" يقصد بها الأهانة و التحقير. و بما انني هاوي و لست بغاوي ترجمة قمت بنقل هذه القصة اللطيفة الى اللغة العربية ليشاركني قرأتها من لم يسعفه الحظ من قرأتها بلغتها الأم. في هذه المجموعة القصصية و من خلال عمله كمدير في المدارس الأصلاحية في جمهورية جنوب افريقيا و خلال حقبة الفصل العنصري, يستعرض الكاتب بعض المواقف الدرامية التي تواجه الطلاب الأفارقة في مسار حياتهم داخل و خارج هذه الأصلاحيات. كتاب ينضح بالحزن و العاطفة, و يغوص بك في اعماق نفوس بشرية قلقة و مضطربة. لمن يرغب في قرأة القصة المترجمة يمكنه الرجوع اليها من خلال الرايط التالي:
http://www.alnoor.se/article.asp?id=3...

[Jesse Workman · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories seemed a bit different from Paton's larger works. They were, however, very moving and not too difficult to digest. The themes and morals were very near the surface, but the beauty of Paton's writing and his conveyance of emotion are perhaps my favorite aspect of his work. This collection is not nearly as long as I had hoped, but it would be a great way for someone to get acquainted with Paton's writing before starting one of his larger works, i.e. a great way to get hooked.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Tales From a Troubled Land”. is a collection of short stories by Alan Paton.
Beginning with the powerful “A Life For A Life”, the book pulls you into South African life during apartheid with a heartbreaking tale that has ties with today’s systemic racism.
All of the stories are well-written and compelling, perhaps half of them refer to Mr. Paton’s years as the Principal of a Boy’s Reformatory in Johannesburg.
“The Worst Thing Of His Life” seems a precursor to one of my all-time favorite books, “Cry, The Beloved Country”. “The Waste Land” was incredibly powerful in spite of its brevity. Some of the stories seemed a bit uneven, but you’ll find the ones that speak to you. Solid 4 stars.

Memorable passages:

“Then he went to stand with the other shepherds, a man shamed, a man shamed standing with other shamed men, who must teach their children to know forever their station.”

“And this death would go on too, for nothing less than the reform of a society would bring it to an end. It was the menace of the socially frustrated, strangers to mercy, striking like adders for the dark reasons of ancient minds, at any who crossed their paths.”

[Dena]

I love Alan Paton's writing, and "Cry, The Beloved Country" is one of my favorite books. This selection of short stories mostly made me feel sorrow, but the last story was beautifully written, with a glimmer of hope. The stories capture a moment in history, and some of the frustration, injustice and heartbreak of South Africa during apartheid. The small moments recorded in the stories made this time period feel real and personal.

[Nazmi Yaakub · Rating 2 out of 5]

BAYANGAN awal tentang karya berlatarkan Aparteid mungkin mengecewakan saya apabila mengingatkan pengarangnya adalah aktivis anti-Aparteid yang mengasaskan Parti Liberal Afrika Selatan, Alan Paton. Apatah lagi cerpen pertama dalam kumpulan ini, Life for a Life seolah-olah bakal menguak sejarah hitam dan celaka yang menyula manusia kulit hitam di Afrika Selatan.

Bagaimanapun, cerpen yang menyorot pembunuhan tuan tanah kulit putih yang menuntut darah ditumpahkan secara melulu itu, tidak membawa kita untuk terus teraba-raba dan dicucuk-cucuk duri Aparteid itu. Sebaliknya sebahagian besar cerpen dalam Tales from a Troubled Land ini membawa komentar sosial berdasarkan latar pengalaman pengarang dalam mentadbir pusat pemulihan juvana bagi kanak-kanak dan remaja kulit hitam.

Kumpulan cerpen ini boleh dianggap karya sosial daripada politikal meskipun cerpen terakhirnya A Drink in a Passage menutupnya secara ironik terhadap seniman kulit hitam yang memenangi pertandingan arca yang arcanya lebih diraikan daripada kemanusiaan senimannya.

Namun, dua cerpen pemula dan penutupnya memberikan pemahaman yang baik untuk melihat cengkaman Aparteid terhadap manusia desa dan manusia bandar dari kaca mata politikal dan kemanusiaan, manakala di tengah-tengahnya kita sebenarnya didedahkan dengan komentar sosialnya terhadap masalah remaja yang disaring daripada pengalamannya yang benar tetapi pahit.

[Virgilio Machado · Rating 5 out of 5]

One might assume from a knowledge of Paton's work and the title that the ten stories, Tales of a Troubled Land, will be ten variations on the theme of apartheid in South Africa. But this is not the case, for both the stories of "The Worst Thing in His Life" and "The Elephant Shooter" are concerned with the behavior of people which does not have anything to do with apartheid per se.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-28047...

"I should like to write books about South Africa," said Alan (Cry, the Beloved Country) Paton a dozen years ago, "which would really stab people in the conscience." That is what he has succeeded in doing from the first. A tough and fearless little man who loves his country and its people, black and white (he is the leader of the Liberal Party in South Africa), Paton does not rank as a major writer. But for his purposes, he may be something even better

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/art...

[Samantha Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paton's short stories in this collection paints a troubled time. He shows readers the troubles that plague a country through some of its most innocent souls. For example, Spike in the story Death of a Tsotsi, or Jacky in The Divided House. The roar of South Africa is heard loud and clear in these short stories. Paton's skill to turn these tales into short stories, instead of actual novels themselves, highlights his craftiness.

I loved reading the tales. Paton makes it so that you're right there in the room with the characters.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories set in South Africa in the 1950s-1960s. Several are from the point of view of a white director of a reformatory for young black boys, and focus on a particular inmate who is clever and memorable. There is an obvious delight in those who most respectfully break the rules, and humor is often present, but every story ends in tragedy, as it much for such a person in such a place and time. I can't help but wonder what stories Paton would tell about South Africa today.

[Longfellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paton is gifted with the ability to write about South Africa insightfully while in the midst of its turmoil and immoral governance. His insights are indictments yet remain compassionate.

All these things plus the stories are beautifully written and a pleasure to read.

[Jeff Hobbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life for a life --2
Sponono --2
Ha'penny --3
The waste land --3
The worst thing of his life --3
Elephant shooter --3
Debbie go home --2
Death of a Tsotsi --3
A divided house --3
A drink in the passage --3

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Troubling! I am very happy that we are moving past this old way of doing things, and that the arc is leaning toward equality -- the next thing to conquer is the bullies, of which there are a sad number here ... but many of the stories are still to give one hope.

[Caroline Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alan Paton’s writing is still beautiful and interesting, but in these short stories there isn’t time enough for the hopefulness found in his novel, “Cry the Beloved Country”. So while still touching these stories are darker and not quite as wonderful as that book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories about S. Africa during apartied. Interesting insight.

[Melissa Vinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for #readingtheworld2025 with @hook.me.a.book on Instagram. This was for the country of South Africa. 🇿🇦

This collection of short stories is based on Paton’s time as the principal of a boys reformatory in Johannesburg. The stories are well-written and moving. For me, they invoked feelings of frustration and anger at the injustices in the author’s native land, South Africa, during apartheid, from the years of 1948 to 1994.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I have found both to be very enlightening. If you are new to this author, I would recommend starting with this collection of short stories to get a feel for his writing style. It’s a short book, at just 128 pages, but a powerful read.

[Pascale · Rating 2 out of 5]

None of the 10 stories in this slim volume has left much of an impression on me. Cumulatively they communicate the wariness and distrust pervasive in any encounter between white and black people in Apartheid South Africa. Most of them seem based on Paton's own experience as director of a reformatory and feature wily young black men with dim prospects. Disappointing from the author of "Too Late the Phalarope".

[SpaceBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories, mostly drawn from Paton's experiences working in the school system. Although not all of the stories deal with apartheid directly, its impossible not to place the stories in the context they were written, especially those on the subject of black students with white teachers.

[Gerald H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. In graphic poignant terms, it gives a touching picture of what happens when a majority of people fail to understand and respect all other people. It is difficult to appreciate the pathos of this book and the situation.
It ends with a question: will we ever Learn?

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories that capture life in South Africa during Apartheid. Many of the injustices and pain of the era are highlighted

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Alan Paton home run. Excellent.

[Mica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read A Drink in the Passage for uni. Can't wait to read more.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart wrenching with a few wholesome moments. Alan Paton is a beautiful writer

[Kathy Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

These short stories are still very timely and well done.

[Chloe Campbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eww

[Brett Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable collection of short stories highlighting the unjust apartheid society of South Africa. Very quick and easy read which I’d recommend.

[Alice Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'Do you think we'll ever touch each other? Your people and mine? Or is it too late?'
But I didn't give him any answer. For though I may hope, and though I may fear, I don't really know."

[eve is reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

this collection of short stories isn't particularly memorable, however the story about the debutante ball was a hit for me! all the stories are solid and deal with typical themes with paton's work: race, poverty, crime, education and relationships between white and black south africans. i don't think i will continue with paton in the short story format, as this felt very dim in comparison to cry, the beloved country.