Nelson Mandela: A Very Short IntroductionAs well as being a remarkable statesman and one of the world's longest-detained political prisoners, Nelson Mandela has become an exemplary figure of non-racialism and democracy, a moral giant. Once a man with an unknown face, he became after his 1994 release one of the most internationally recognizable images of our time. Set within a biographical frame, this Very Short Introduction explores the reasons why his story is so important to us in the world at large today, and what his achievements signify. It shows how our picture of Mandela is a great deal more complicated than the legend suggests: quality of character is combined with his talents as a performer, his maverick ability to absorb transnational influences, his proximity to outstanding colleagues, his steely survival skills, and his postmodern ease with media image. It shows how many different interconnected stories, histories, values, and symbols combine in the famous name Nelson Mandela. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
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achievement activist activity African nationalist Afrikaner ANC leader ANC’s ANCYL anti-colonial apartheid armed struggle autobiography banning became biographies black South African Botha Cape career cell Chapter colonial Communist Congress context country’s cultural Defiance Campaign democracy democratic despite Drum early ethical expressed Fanon Figure force Frantz Fanon Gandhi Gandhist garden Helen Joseph human icon important incarceration Indian inmates involved Johannesburg Jongintaba’s justice Klerk later leadership liberation lived Madiba masculine Mayibuye Mbeki militant modern moral movement negotiation Nehru Nelson Mandela non-violence Oliver Tambo organization P. W. Botha Party passive resistance people’s political prisoners Pollsmoor postcolonial President protest racial represented Rivonia Rivonia Trial Robben Island role SACP Sisulu social Sophiatown South Africa Soweto speech state’s story style symbolic Thembu traditional Transkei Treason Trial urban violence Walk to Freedom Walter Sisulu warders Winnie Mandela women Xhosa