Too Late The Phalarope

Until I read "Too Late the Phalarope," I could not imagine a novel richer and more rewarding than "Cry, the Beloved Country." Alan Paton obviously loved South Africa. In "Cry" he wrote of the wretched lives and condition of the black South African. But he imagined a better world through the lives of his major characters. In "Too Late the Phalarope," published in 1953, five years after "Cry," Paton shows exactly how apartheid negatively affected whites, as well. Instead of murder the central crime in this novel is immorality. Yes, crime. It was on record, meaning against the law, for a white man to have sexual relations with a black South African. The main character, Pieter van Vlaanderen, taller, stronger, smarter, and more successful than the average Afrikaaner, has a secret sin, a secret guilt: He is attracted to Stephanie, a black South Afrikaaner. What sets Pieter apart from others is his record as a war hero, an efficient lieutenant in the police force, and a celebrated rugby player from his region. It is not a spoiler if I tell you that Pieter will be destroyed and the family ruined when Pieter is accused of immorality, then proven guilty. One way Paton avoids any description of this ill-gotten pleasure is to have an innocent narrator tell the story. Pieter's aunt, an unmarried woman, never loved by a man, is the narrator. Pieter's journal fills in details the aunt could not know. Paton raises all sorts of ethical questions in his novel. Can a wife drive a man to another woman if she is unwilling to participate fully in the marriage bed? Does a man develop a weak character, although hidden, because his father is cruel and withholds love? The main question raised several times is this: If God fully forgives, if God gives grace, why then can't the state in crimes such as this? Not only is Pieter ruined, but so is his family, although grace does come into effect in this. I found "Too Late the Phalarope" (a Phalarope is a bird and no, I cannot explain its meaning in the title), a richer novel than "Cry." It needs an immediate second reading to capture those nuances that run all through the novel that may elude the reader on first reading. And those ethical questions. This is the kind of book that would make an excellent choice for discussion in a book club.

This is the first time I have been so moved by a book that I have written a review of it. When I think of "the lieutenant" and his goodness, his sin, his longing - deep longing - for fulfilled love with his spouse or his father or his G-d, my heart aches. Because of his physical beauty and bearing, others have set him apart. Where is he at home? Not in either of his own homes, not in his own body or mind. Locked in the unforgiving and puritanical society of the Afrikaaners, the lieutenant is doomed to destroy himself and all around him. The characters are multi-layered, fully believable. His Aunt, as narrator, serves as the conscience of the times. She reveals herself as she details the downfall of the family and as she does, she and the captain question man's right to condemn self-righteously - when G-d condemns and then forgives.

This is the first of Alan Paton's books that I have read. I was struck by his Steinbeck-ish style of writing (which is fabulous, of course!) But comparison's aside, Paton has crafted an intriguing and extremely meaningful story. I'll avoid going over the plot but suffice to say there was not a moment when I did not feel a strong connection to the characters and their motivations. The views into Pieter's mind contributed to an intense emotional line through the book. Apartheid was not the focus but through Pieter's entries we can definitely understand the horrors of the situation (and perhaps apply the knowledge to our own situations). Truly an inspirational work! I encourage you to read this book ASAP!

I was glad to read here that a teacher regularly assigns this book to his students. It was one of my favorite books years ago. I read it again recently and found new things in it, as one always does with great art. It is relevant to any culture where conformity to tradition and bigotry abound. I think it's a better book than "Cry The Beloved Country." I like its dark center.

In unusual and finely styled language we have sensitive portrayals of many characters and a variety of relationships with the main character Pieter, a larger-than-life hero (called a god by one of the townspeople) who is admired by many but nonetheless cannot ignore "the one misery of [his] life." Apartheid is the environment of this novel, not the focus. The most significant relationship is the one between Pieter and his father Jakob, but crucial to the story are the other father-surrogates: the Captain, Pieter's father-in-law, and most important, his friend Kappie. I have taught this novel to my classes every year for the past twenty-five years or so. I always have students who say to me that it is unlike any other book they have ever read. The book always moves some students to tears. It is truly an unforgettable reading experience.