Long Walk to Freedom
MANDELA, Nelson
Randburg, South Africa: Macdonald Purnell. 1994.
Description:
First trade edition. Inscribed on the title page "Aan Kapt. Claasen, Komplimente + beste weuse. Mandela 14.4.96". pp. [x], 630. Original black cloth and original illustrated dust jacket. In very good condition throughout. Claasen was a member of Mandela's security team and this inscription in his (and certainly not Mandela's) native Afrikaans is a mark of the respect in which the President held his multi-racial bodyguard. Mandela's decision to recruit his security personnel from across the racial and political divide was controversial but brilliant. Most of the white Afrikaans were from the strongly pro-apartheid police force and many of the black members had been political activists. Initial tension and suspicion evaporated in the face of Mandela's potent mixture of charm and force and his unswerving belief in reconciliation in every part of South African society.
Description:
First trade edition. Inscribed on the title page "Aan Kapt. Claasen, Komplimente + beste weuse. Mandela 14.4.96". pp. [x], 630. Original black cloth and original illustrated dust jacket. In very good condition throughout. Claasen was a member of Mandela's security team and this inscription in his (and certainly not Mandela's) native Afrikaans is a mark of the respect in which the President held his multi-racial bodyguard. Mandela's decision to recruit his security personnel from across the racial and political divide was controversial but brilliant. Most of the white Afrikaans were from the strongly pro-apartheid police force and many of the black members had been political activists. Initial tension and suspicion evaporated in the face of Mandela's potent mixture of charm and force and his unswerving belief in reconciliation in every part of South African society.