Focuses on how the view of Mandela as an 'icon' has had a shaping influence on studies of Mandela

Introduces humanist and decolonial perspectives on Mandela and asks what the costs of his special charisma were for his country

Weaves together both international and national perspectives on Mandela, looking at how he appeared as a citizen and politician to his countrymen and women, and at how he at the same time presided as a towering mythic figure on the international stage

Part of the Very Short Introductions series - over ten million copies sold worldwide

New to this Edition:

This second edition reviews the earlier symbolic reading and reconsiders controversial aspects of Mandela's legacy in its light

A pathbreaking analysis of the relationship between Mandela the myth, and Mandela the historical figure, looking at the way images, stories, and politics have been combined to create the iconic image of Mandela that we know today.

Boehmer explores the long trajectory of Mandela's life, explaining first the historical and political context of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and then the post-apartheid period of difficult reconciliation, including the shifts and changes in Mandela's reputation since the millennium.

This innovative postcolonial reflection takes on board the more critical revisionist literature on Mandela that has emerged since 2015, looking at responses to his death in 2013, and the 2018 commemorations of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The first edition set a trend in scholarship on Mandela by reading his character and achievements through the lens of his influences, interests, and leading ideas. The second edition extends this focus with a far-reaching critical look at meanings of reconciliation and Mandela's ethic of reciprocity.