Nelson Mandela became a legend in his own lifetime. The son of a chief, he qualified as a lawyer, then was one of the leaders of the African National Congress whose long, heroic struggle against the infamous system of Apartheid is vividly described in this biography. Accused of treason by the South African government, Mandela was incarcerated for twenty-seven years, years in which he was honored as the world's most famous political prisoner. Mary Benson follows his political and philosophical development as well as his personal life. The fascinating story of Mandela's delicate negotiations with the government, leading to the release of fellow prisoners and to his own dramatic emergence from prison in 1990, is captured along with South Africa's progress towards democratic elections. In that election Mandela and millions of his black fellow citizens voted for the first time in their lives. The final chapter, which concludes with Mandela's inauguration as president, conveys the significance and profound joy of this historic event.

About the Author
Desmond Tutu (b. 1931) is the former Anglican Archbishop of Capetown and a social rights activist. He was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2007, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.


Book Information
ISBN 9780393312812
Author Mary Benson
Format Paperback
Page Count 312
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 365g
Dimensions(mm) 211mm * 140mm * 23mm