Nelson Mandela: his contributions to literature
Nelson Mandela, who turns 95 on Thursday, has created a rich legacy of written work, much of it biographical in nature, some leaning toward photographic record or even fictional anthology; all, of course, inspirational.
Nelson Mandela: The Struggle Is My Life (1990)
This first book now acts as a collection of Mandela's speeches and writings between 1944 and 1990.
amazon.com/Nelson-Mandela-The-Struggle-Life/dp/0873485939
Long Walk to Freedom (1994)
Mandela recounts the details of his life, as a child in Cape Provence, university education, and rise to presidential leadership through his fight against apartheid and time spent in prison.
amazon.com/Long-Walk-Freedom-Autobiography-Mandela/dp/0316548189
Mandela: An Illustrated Autobiography (1996)
Nearly 200 photographs cover Mandela's childhood, young professional career, family life, protests, courtroom battles, release and eventual electoral involvement, accompanied by an abridged text taken from "Long Walk to Freedom."
amazon.com/Mandela-Illustrated-Autobiography-Nelson/dp/0316550388
Favorite African Folktales (2004, 2007; audiobooks 2009)
A fondness for Africa's rich heritage permeates this collection, whose contents are derived from all over the vast continent. Individual stories are available in audiobook form, read by the likes of Charlize Theron, Matt Damon, Helen Mirren, Samuel L. Jackson and Alan Rickman.
amazon.com/Nelson-Mandelas-Favorite-African-Folktales/dp/0393329909
In His Own Words (2004)
This collection of speeches spans not only Mandela's pre-imprisonment days, but also his election as Nobel Laureate and South African President, ably illustrating his character as an articulate, assured, intelligent and persuasive peacemaker. With a foreword written by Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan.
amazon.com/His-Own-Words-Nelson-Mandela/dp/0316110191
A Prisoner in the Garden by The Nelson Mandela Foundation (2006)
A second photobook, but one in which the passages lifted from "Long Walk to Freedom" are supplemented by images of original handwritten letters, diary entries and memoirs, official documents, and release forms.
amazon.com/Prisoner-Garden-Nelson-Mandela-Foundation/dp/0670037532
Conversations with Myself (2011)
The most recent anthology of Nelson Mandela's writings also includes transcripts of interviews, speeches and friendly discussions, letters to both loved ones and governmental authorities, drafts, doodles, and other illuminating materials extracted from the archives. With a foreword supplied by Barack Obama.
amazon.com/Conversations-Myself-Nelson-Mandela/dp/0312611684
For Nelson Mandela (1987) edited by Jacques Derrida
Published while Mandela was still in Pollsmoor, this tribute contains contributions from luminaries of world literature: Susan Sontag, William Burroughs, Allan Ginsberg, John Irving, Ntozake Shange and Joyce Carol Oates, Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo, Tunisia's Mustapha Tlili, Beninois Olympe Bhely-Quenum, Brazilian poet Jorge Amado and South African writer Nadine Gordimer -- who, like Mandela, is a Nobel Laureate herself.
amazon.com/Nelson-Mandela-Jacques-Derrida/dp/0805005811
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