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Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction

Elleke Boehmer

July 2008

ISBN: 9780192803016

224 pages
Paperback
174x111mm

In Stock

Very Short Introductions

Price: £7.99

As well as being a remarkable statesman, Nelson Mandela has become a universal symbol of justice, a secular saint. Elleke Boehmer examines not only the great anti-apartheid leader's life, but also the ways in which images and representations have been used to create the Mandela we know today - an internationally recognized icon of freedom.

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Description

As well as being a remarkable statesman, Nelson Mandela has become a universal symbol of justice, a secular saint. Elleke Boehmer examines not only the great anti-apartheid leader's life, but also the ways in which images and representations have been used to create the Mandela we know today - an internationally recognized icon of freedom.

  • 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

About the Author(s)

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

Table of Contents

    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

Reviews

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

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