Summary
The novel opens in a small village in Ixopo Ndotsheni, where the black priest
Stephen Kumalo receives a letter from the priest Theophilus Msimangu in
Johannesburg. Msimangu urges Kumalo to come to the city to help his sister
Gertrude, because she is ill. It is a long journey to Johannesburg and Kumalo
sees the wonders of the modern world for the first time. Kumalo goes to
Johannesburg to help Gertrude and to find his son Absalom, who had gone to the
city to look for Gertrude but never came home. When he gets to the city, Kumalo
learns that Gertrude has taken up a life of prostitution and beer brewing, and
is now drinking heavily. She agrees to return to the village with her young son.
Assured by these developments, Kumalo embarks on the search for his son, first
seeing his brother John, a carpenter who has become involved in the politics of
South Africa. Kumalo and Msimangu follow Absalom's trail only to learn that
Absalom has been in a reformatory and will have a child with a young woman.
Shortly thereafter, Kumalo learns that his son has been arrested for murder. The
victim is Arthur Jarvis, who was killed during a burglary. Arthur was an
engineer and a white activist for racial justice, and he happens to be the son
of Kumalo's neighbour James Jarvis.
Jarvis learns of his son's death and comes with his family to Johannesburg.
Jarvis and his son had been distant, and now the father begins to know his son
through his writings. Through reading his son's essays, Jarvis decides to take
up his son's work on behalf of South Africa's black population.
Absalom is sentenced to death for the murder of Arthur Jarvis. Before his
father returns to Ndotsheni, Absalom marries the girl who is carrying his child,
and she joins Kumalo's family. Kumalo returns to his village with his
daughter-in-law and nephew, having found that Gertrude ran away on the night
before their departure.
Back in Ixopo, Kumalo makes a futile visit to the tribe's chief in order to
discuss changes that must be made to help the barren village. Help arrives,
however, when James Jarvis becomes involved in the work. He arranges to have a
dam built and hires a native agricultural demonstrator to implement new farming
methods.
The novel ends at dawn on the morning of Absalom's execution. The fathers of
the two children are devastated that both of their sons are now dead
Stephen Kumalo receives a letter from the priest Theophilus Msimangu in
Johannesburg. Msimangu urges Kumalo to come to the city to help his sister
Gertrude, because she is ill. It is a long journey to Johannesburg and Kumalo
sees the wonders of the modern world for the first time. Kumalo goes to
Johannesburg to help Gertrude and to find his son Absalom, who had gone to the
city to look for Gertrude but never came home. When he gets to the city, Kumalo
learns that Gertrude has taken up a life of prostitution and beer brewing, and
is now drinking heavily. She agrees to return to the village with her young son.
Assured by these developments, Kumalo embarks on the search for his son, first
seeing his brother John, a carpenter who has become involved in the politics of
South Africa. Kumalo and Msimangu follow Absalom's trail only to learn that
Absalom has been in a reformatory and will have a child with a young woman.
Shortly thereafter, Kumalo learns that his son has been arrested for murder. The
victim is Arthur Jarvis, who was killed during a burglary. Arthur was an
engineer and a white activist for racial justice, and he happens to be the son
of Kumalo's neighbour James Jarvis.
Jarvis learns of his son's death and comes with his family to Johannesburg.
Jarvis and his son had been distant, and now the father begins to know his son
through his writings. Through reading his son's essays, Jarvis decides to take
up his son's work on behalf of South Africa's black population.
Absalom is sentenced to death for the murder of Arthur Jarvis. Before his
father returns to Ndotsheni, Absalom marries the girl who is carrying his child,
and she joins Kumalo's family. Kumalo returns to his village with his
daughter-in-law and nephew, having found that Gertrude ran away on the night
before their departure.
Back in Ixopo, Kumalo makes a futile visit to the tribe's chief in order to
discuss changes that must be made to help the barren village. Help arrives,
however, when James Jarvis becomes involved in the work. He arranges to have a
dam built and hires a native agricultural demonstrator to implement new farming
methods.
The novel ends at dawn on the morning of Absalom's execution. The fathers of
the two children are devastated that both of their sons are now dead