Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction

• This Very Short Introduction stands apart from other Mandela biographies by taking an uncompromising and critical look at his life, and avoiding hagiography
• Boldly examines the relationship between Mandela the myth, and Mandela the historical figure - looking at the way images, stories, and politics have been combined to create the iconic image of Mandela that we know today
• Explores Mandela's life story, and explains the historical and political context of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa
• Looks at the range of his influences from colleagues and friends to literature and poetry, shedding light on the deep-seated and often contradictory motivations of an intensely guarded and private man

Readership: General readers seeking to understand this internationally famous figure; readers of twentieth century political history or African history; readers of biography; students in media and cultural studies, colonial and postcolonial studies, and in literary and textual criticism.

Elleke Boehmer, Professor of World Literature in English, University of Oxford

"An excellent overview of his career...[and] much more than just a "Very Short Introduction"." - Independent.

1: Mandela - Story and symbol
2: Scripting a Life - The early years
3: Growth of a National Icon - Later years
4: Influences and Interactions
5: Sophiatown Sophisticate
6: Masculine Performer
7: Spectres in the Prison Garden
8: Mandela's futures - The ethical legacy
Further Reading
References

Author Elleke Boehmer introduces 'Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction' in this 'Meet the Author' video
Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction - a reading guide