Alan Paton was a South African novelist, best known for his novel Cry, the Beloved Country. He was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1903 and died in 1988. He was an advocate for racial justice and human rights, and his works often explored the social injustices of South African society. His most famous work, Cry, the Beloved Country, was published in 1948 and has been adapted into several films and stage productions. Paton's other works include Too Late the Phalarope (1953) and Ah, But Your Land Is Beautiful (1981). He was awarded the Order of Merit by the British government in 1983.