The gripping story of iconic statesmen and activist Nelson Mandela, now told in this succinct, condensed book that''s perfect for a wide audience. Nelson Mandela is perhaps the most iconic statesman and activist in history, and this is the definitive introduction to his work. It starts from the very beginning of Mandela''s life in the Thembu clan, and follows the unassuming young man as he became the world-famous figure who led the people of South Africa away from apartheid and into a multiracial democracy.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison; his eventual release and election as South Africa''s first black president were landmark events of the twentieth century. He will always be the face of freedom, an ambassador for civil rights, and a heroic liberator whose influence and image of moral integrity extended way beyond his homeland.