Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction

By: Tom Lodge and Elleke Boehmer

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Synopsis: Nelson Mandela--is it possible to say who or what he is? Yes, he was one of the world's longest-detained political prisoners. He is a universal symbol of social justice certainly; an exemplary figure connoting non-racialism and democracy; a moral giant. For years a man cut off from the world, Mandela became after his 1994 release an internationally recognizable icon. But why should his story be important to us in the world at large today? What do his achievements signify not only nationally in South Africa but also internationally? This book is about the different, interconnected stories, histories, values and symbols that Nelson Mandela embodies. Across his life Mandela has filled a rich range of roles: handsome city-slicker, dashing guerrilla, the millennial savior figure. By examining these different roles as well as the principles which lie behind and motivate them, this Very Short Introduction presents an analytical portrait of a shape-shifting life. Set within a biographical frame, the book offers a more deeply personal analysis of Mandela than biographies centered on the towering public figure have been able provide.

Book Quality:: Excellent
Book Size:: 224 Pages
ISBN-13:: 9780192803016
Publisher:: Oxford University Press
Date of Addition:: 07/09/09
Copyrighted By:: Elleke Boehmer
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: History, Nonfiction, Biographies and Memoirs, Politics and Government
Submitted By:: 170
Proofread By:: 170
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.