Ah, but Your Land Is Beautiful

Ah, But Your Land Is Beautiful (1983) is the third novel by South African author Alan Paton. He is best known for his debut novel Cry, the Beloved Country (1948). Ah, But Your Land is Beautiful is set in the 1950s, after apartheid was established in postwar South Africa. The historical novel explores fictional characters interacting with historical figures working to resist these laws.

In this novel, set in the years 1952 to 1958, Paton drew from his years working as a political activist against apartheid. He also based it on his time as the president of the Liberal Party of South Africa. In the foreword, Paton says that the book contains both real (historic) and fictitious characters.

Two persons he references were still living at the time of his writing: Helen Joseph and Archbishop Trevor Huddleston. Each gave permission to Paton to introduce them, without requiring to see his text.

He noted that other real persons, who had died by the time of publication, were Albert Lutuli, Dr. Monty Naicker, Patrick Duncan, Advocate Donald Barkly Molteno, and Archbishop Geoffrey Clayton.

Plot summary
The novel has multiple storylines that alternate with one another. They are related to the experiences of Paton and associates in resisting National Party rule in South Africa during the 1950s.

The book is divided into six parts:

Part One: The Defiance Campaign Part Two: The Cleft Stick Part Three: Come Back, Africa Part Four: Death of a Traitor Part Five: The Holy Church of Zion Part Six: Into the Golden Age

Paton originally conceived of the book as the first part of a trilogy.