Mandela

Nelson Mandela is known worldwide as a great moral and political leader, the first democratically elected South African president, the recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize, and a beacon of interracial goodwill. In Mandela, former foreign correspondent Bob Crew demystifies the icon and his legacy. After over a decade of travels in South Africa, Crew seeks truth in the unexpected details of the lives of Mandela and current South African president Jacob Zuma, comparing them to other world icons in order to bring a new understanding of their legacies to Western readers. Mandela presents a wealth of information, including character studies of Mandela and Zuma, the historical social background of South Africa, and the effect Zuma has had on the racially divided country. Crew uses his own reflections and insights as well as interviews with many South Africans to color his analysis of historical and current events. This book is a seasoned view of the history and politics of a country that produced one of the most iconic leaders of the world, who wished more than anything else for peace.