Nelson Mandela is one of the world's most revered and popular public figures, a man synonymous with the long, bitter struggle to rid South Africa of a racist regime and replace it with a multi-racial democracy. Today he is seen as a symbol of world freedom, an ambassador for civil rights, a heroic liberator whose influence and image of moral integrity extend way beyond his homeland. Blessed with effortless charm,he leaves a lasting impression on anyone he meets. But the ready smile with which he greets children and adults alike masks a steely determination forged by decades of oppression.

Nelson Mandela is one of the world's most revered and popular public figures, a man synonymous with the long, bitter struggle to rid South Africa of a racist regime and replace it with a multi-racial democracy. Today he is seen as a symbol of world freedom, an ambassador for civil rights, a heroic liberator whose influence and image of moral integrity extend way beyond his homeland. Blessed with effortless charm,he leaves a lasting impression on anyone he meets. But the ready smile with which he greets children and adults alike masks a steely determination forged by decades of oppression.

Fully illustrated, this book chronicles the remarkable life of Nelson Mandela, from his childhood in rural Transkei to iconic statesman. It describes his time as a law student, the events that led up to the infamous treason trial and his 27-year imprisonment. The euphoria that greeted his eventual release and then his election as the country's first post-apartheid president are well-known, but Christina Scott brings a fresh and first-hand perspective to these landmark events and vividly conveys both the pain and the inspiration that have characterized the life of this remarkable man.

CHAPTER 1

"Girding for Battle"

CHAPTER 2

"I Have Crossed Famous Rivers"

CHAPTER 3

"The People Shall Rule!"

CHAPTER 4

The Winds of Change Blow - Backwards

CHAPTER 5

The Attack of the Wild Beast

CHAPTER 6

"Esiquithini" - "At the Island"

CHAPTER 7

The Path to Freedom

CHAPTER 8

"I Feel Like an Old Battery That Has Been Recharged!"

CHAPTER 9

President Nelson Mandela

CHAPTER 10

"I Can't Rest"

Index