Mandela: A Biography
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His negotiations in the early s with South African Pres. Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in for their efforts.
His father, the chief of the Madiba clan of the Xhosa -speaking Tembu people, died when Nelson was still young, and he was raised by Jongintaba, the regent of the Tembu. Although Nelson had a claim to the chieftainship, he renounced it in order to become a lawyer. Nelson Mandela died on December 5, , in Johannesburg. He was 95 years old. After his death was announced, his life was remembered and celebrated in South Africa as well as around the world.
Numerous memorial services were held, including one by the South African government on December Mandela is also known for being the first black president of South Africa, serving from to Nelson Mandela had three wives: The Presidential Years , released posthumously, is the unfinished draft of his second volume of memoirs; it was completed by Mandla Langa. Nelson renounced his claim to the chieftainship to become a lawyer. He attended South African Native College later the University of Fort Hare and studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand; he later passed the qualification exam to become a lawyer.
That same year he met and married Evelyn Ntoko Mase. Mandela subsequently held other ANC leadership positions, through which he helped revitalize the organization and oppose the apartheid policies of the ruling National Party.
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- Nelson Mandela: A Biography by Martin Meredith.
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Oliver Tambo, and Nelson Mandela the latter two briefly had a joint law practice in Johannesburg. The South African Indian Congress, which had also been revitalized, helped the ANC organize a defiance campaign in , during which thousands of volunteers defied discriminatory laws by passively courting arrest and…. He traveled throughout the country as part of the campaign, trying to build support for nonviolent means of protest against the discriminatory laws.
In he was involved in drafting the Freedom Charter , a document calling for nonracial social democracy in South Africa. Starting in , he was intermittently banned severely restricted in travel, association, and speech. In December he was arrested with more than other people on charges of treason that were designed to harass antiapartheid activists.
Mandela went on trial that same year and eventually was acquitted in During the extended court proceedings, he divorced his first wife and married Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. After the massacre of unarmed black South Africans by police forces at Sharpeville in and the subsequent banning of the ANC, Mandela abandoned his nonviolent stance and began advocating acts of sabotage against the South African regime.
In he went to Algeria for training in guerrilla warfare and sabotage, returning to South Africa later that year. On August 5, shortly after his return, Mandela was arrested at a road block in Natal ; he was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison. In October the imprisoned Mandela and several other men were tried for sabotage, treason, and violent conspiracy in the infamous Rivonia Trial, named after a fashionable suburb of Johannesburg where raiding police had discovered quantities of arms and equipment at the headquarters of the underground Umkhonto we Sizwe.
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His speech garnered international attention and acclaim and was published later that year as I Am Prepared to Die. On June 12, , he was sentenced to life imprisonment, narrowly escaping the death penalty. He was subsequently kept at the maximum-security Pollsmoor Prison until , when, after being treated for tuberculosis , he was transferred to Victor Verster Prison near Paarl. The South African government periodically made conditional offers of freedom to Mandela, most notably in , on the condition that he recognize the newly independent—and highly controversial—status of the Transkei Bantustan and agree to reside there.
An offer made in required that he renounce the use of violence. Mandela refused both offers, the second on the premise that only free men were able to engage in such negotiations and, as a prisoner, he was not a free man. Shortly after his release, Mandela was chosen deputy president of the ANC ; he became president of the party in July Mandela led the ANC in negotiations with de Klerk to end apartheid and bring about a peaceful transition to nonracial democracy in South Africa. In he oversaw the enactment of a new democratic constitution. Mandela resigned his post with the ANC in December , transferring leadership of the party to his designated successor, Thabo Mbeki.
Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela had divorced in , and in Mandela married Graca Machel , the widow of Samora Machel , the former Mozambican president and leader of Frelimo. Mandela did not seek a second term as South African president and was succeeded by Mbeki in After leaving office Mandela retired from active politics but maintained a strong international presence as an advocate of peace, reconciliation, and social justice , often through the work of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, established in Aug 19, Marilyn Pronovost rated it really liked it.
Nelson Mandela: A Biography
The start is somewhat sluggish. Full of information but not told as crisply as the remainder of the book. Once the biography gets into Mandela's work for the rights of black citizens, it picks up. Also the author does not shy away from Mandela the hero for People's rights versus Mandela the flawed human being.
This is what often makes this book so compelling. He does not spare his contempt for Winnie Mandela and many of her misguided efforts that brought out her worst inner demon Very good book. He does not spare his contempt for Winnie Mandela and many of her misguided efforts that brought out her worst inner demons. There is a lot of sadness in the loss of three of his children. Also there is sadness for those children who survived; he was not part of their life and when he was freed, he still not belong to them,he belonged to the country of South Africa.
There is the part of Mandela that is shown to be a loyalist to others to the point of not being able to see their faults.
Early life and work
Despite all of this, he helped to harness a nation that was full of divisions and to mold it into a nation of various cultures that is growing in world influence. A tribute to a human being not a superhuman hero. Aug 25, Carisa rated it really liked it. This isn't a quick read, but it's a worthwhile one, especially if like me you're coming to it with little to no knowledge of South African history and the anti-apartheid movement.
Meredith devotes a lot of space to the people and politics around Mandela, giving useful pocket histories of the ANC, the National Party, and the political environment out of which apartheid arose. I was also very pleased to find this isn't a hagiography.
Meredith clearly admires Mandela, but he doesn't gloss over the m This isn't a quick read, but it's a worthwhile one, especially if like me you're coming to it with little to no knowledge of South African history and the anti-apartheid movement. Meredith clearly admires Mandela, but he doesn't gloss over the mistakes he made, not only in his personal life but as a politician both before and after his imprisonment. The man presented here sometimes loses his temper, miscalculates and misses key opportunities to gain points against his political opponents, and his achievements seem that much more admirable because of it.
Feb 28, Carrie rated it liked it Recommends it for: I enjoyed this biography, especially because I felt it a somewhat unbiased view of his life. It did not intentionally omit all his shortcomings, especially in relation to his family situation and his leadership. I appreciated that candor immensely especially since far too often historical figures are sanctified and viewed as having no human faults or shortcomings.
Which aside from being totally inaccurate is also extremely misleading and unhelpful. Granted the book did glorify him to a degree, b I enjoyed this biography, especially because I felt it a somewhat unbiased view of his life. Granted the book did glorify him to a degree, but I felt this was warranted considering his life expereinces and his contributions. Overall I took from this that Mandela is as great a public figure and activist as I suspected him to be, but also a human with all the shortcomings that come with. Jan 22, Mary rated it liked it.
A different perspective on the struggle, compared to Nelson's autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom - lots of gritty details about those in Nelson's closest personal circles who may not have been as good to him as they should have been! Definitely eye-opening and gives a clearer picture of his life through non-biased eyes, however Long Walk To Freedom remains the quintessential book about Nelson, and by the man himself Sep 11, Mohammad Yarahmadi rated it really liked it. I enjoyed reading about a man who set an example for all liberty activists.
The very detailed description bored me at the start, but after sometime I got used to the Authur's style. Although the book is about Nelson Mandela, it goes beyond a biography and tells the story of the South African nation with whom I was merely familiar. My discussions with my South African colleague while I was reading the book made it a more interesting read.
I would definitely recommend this book. May 07, Matthew Smith rated it it was amazing. Detailed, comprehensive, and honest retelling of this man's complex and extraordinary life. Meredith never portrays Mandela as more than he is--human--and relates his missteps along with his successes. If you're looking for light reading, this isn't for you. But if you want to begin to understand the life and times of Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders, this is a good place to start.
I love this book because it is very objective, but also very interesting and easy to read. I have had only limited knowledge about South Africa and Apartheid, even though I visited this country last summer, so I was glad that Mr.
Nelson Mandela | Biography, Life, Death, & Facts | bahana-line.com
Meredith presented a big picture and explained overall culture and characterized each person thoroughly. The book is long, but it reads quickly. An interesting read but is not as good as 'Long walk to freedom'. Jul 26, Madhushi Bandara rated it really liked it. A long read, but helped me to understand the world history and the nature of complex politics. Is it a tragic or a blessing to be able to sacrifice life for a noble course?
Aug 22, David Meyer added it. This book took me a bit of time to get through, but it was definitely worth the read. It's an extensive description of Mandela's life, from his childhood all the way to his post political struggles against AIDS.
Nelson Mandela had three wives: Meredith clearly admires Mandela, but he doesn't gloss over the m This isn't a quick read, but it's a worthwhile one, especially if like me you're coming to it with little to no knowledge of South African history and the anti-apartheid movement. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. Trivia About Nelson Mandela: The areas I found most interesting dealt with the internal debates within the ANC and the different personalities involved. A Biography by Martin Meredith. Naved rated it really liked it Oct 20,
The author did a great job detailing who Mandela is as a person, and not just what he did. It was most interesting to learn not just about his incredible strengths and positive attributes, but to see his weaknesses and the mistakes that plagued him during and after his time in office. Hi This book took me a bit of time to get through, but it was definitely worth the read. His love life, while at times very sad, also helped to keep the book extremely interesting.
Overall, the book portrays Mandela's amazing journey through life, and the ways in which he succeeded and failed in attempting to shape his country for the better. Aug 01, Nozqa rated it really liked it.
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Jun 30, Anders rated it it was amazing Shelves: A biography filled with hardship and yet there is hope. Mr Mandelas solutionsmindness is a true inspiration and so is his leadership, this will be his legacy to the entire World. A Must read book in my humble opinion! Jun 12, Julia rated it really liked it. A very detailed biography. The shocking truth about what really was happening in South Africa. Oct 13, Jingga Merah rated it really liked it.
Nelson Mandela
Nov 03, Pablo rated it really liked it Shelves: Well written account of the traumas and triumphs of Nelson Mandela and his South Africa. Read "Diamonds and Gold" first! Feb 18, Lincoln rated it really liked it. Mandela was almost painfully human and pulled off one of the most astonishing feats history has ever recorded. Kind of gives everybody hope. Regiane rated it it was amazing Jan 05, Naved rated it really liked it Oct 20, Mazen Jubayli rated it really liked it Feb 26, Bassam rated it really liked it Feb 15, N Cross rated it liked it Jan 16, Sabrina rated it it was amazing Apr 07, Scott rated it really liked it Sep 24,