NELSON MANDELA

by Mary Benson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1987

A basic biography that outlines Nelson Mandela's political goals and his straggle to achieve them. Mandela's childhood is summarized in the first four pages, describing his rebellion against the tribe's plans for him. As a law student, Mandela joined with others to ""galvanize"" the African National Congress, although espousing the nonviolent methods of Gandhi. When the ruling party showed no inclination to change the policies of apartheid, Mandela and his associates turned to sabotage, which eventually led to his arrest, lengthy trials, and imprisonment. Excerpts from Mandela's speeches are woven into the narrative, allowing him to present his own views on apartheid. The reader gets only a glimpse of Winnie Mandela's political activities and current events in South Africa. The author, a South African who has met Mandela and has written about the African National Congress, makes the complicated South African politics accessible to young readers but often assumes that the reader has a knowledge of geography, place names, and tribal customs. This is a bare-bones approach, useful to collections that need introductory material on Mandela. No index.

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 58

Publisher: Hamish Hamilton--dist. by David & Charles

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S