Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it takes to change the world
in this comprehensive biography that tells the complete life story of
internationally renowned peacemaker Nelson Mandela.
Civil rights activist. World leader. Writer. Throughout his life, Nelson
Mandela took on many roles, all in the pursuit of peace. Born in 1918 in
South Africa, he grew up in a culture of government-enforced racism and
became involved in the anti-apartheid movement at a young age. Deeply
committed to nonviolent activism, Mandela directed a peaceful campaign
against the racist policies of his South African government, and spent
twenty-seven years in prison as a result. In the years following his
emergence as a free man, he continued his efforts to dismantle the
country's apartheid system and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
alongside South African President F.W. de Klerk. In 1994 he was
inaugurated as South Africa's first black president and served until his
retirement from active politics in 1999 at the age of eighty-one. He
continued to promote global peace until his death in 2013, and his
legacy lives on.
From Nelson Mandela's childhood to his monumental impact on race
relations and nonviolent activism, this comprehensive biography shares
the truth about the man behind the iconic smile: his struggles, his
triumphs, and the sacrifices along the way.