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Winnie Mandela: Mother of a Nation
Covers the life of Winnie Mandela, who married a prominent fighter for racial equality in South Africa and later became a leader in her own right
- GenresBiographySouth Africa
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 14, 2021
Nelson Mandela married three wives during his lifetime; the first wife was something of a childhood sweetheart. He married her when he was a struggling young lawyer and they had a number of children together. He divorced her around the time he got involved with Winnie Mandela
Winnie herself has gone into legend, many books and films produced based on her and her times. No doubt she was then very lovely, young and lively when MANDELA got involved with her. He was swept over his feet, though he was decades older than her, he wanted her, and he got her. She had two daughters with him.
Mandela was an old man when he married his 3rd wife Graca, a former First Lady, both of them very mature and worldly wise. He spent his last years with her. It is however the image, the persona of Winnie that captivated the world.
One used to hear Mandela being castigated for divorcing Winnie - by all accounts a bitter parting - with some saying that Winnie waited for many decades for him to be freed from jail, whatever she did he should have forgiven her, etc. But then again, Mandela was always a very proud man.
The stories abounded - many of them facts really - that Winnie did many terrible things, terrorised fellow blacks, young and old with some of them ending up dead; that she had a number of boyfriends and lovers; that she stole or misused public funds when she became part of government, etc.
But did she deserve to be treated with disdain, disliked by Mandela in what should have been the twilight of their lives? ... This is another very interesting aspect of the legend, Mandela's life.
Winnie herself has gone into legend, many books and films produced based on her and her times. No doubt she was then very lovely, young and lively when MANDELA got involved with her. He was swept over his feet, though he was decades older than her, he wanted her, and he got her. She had two daughters with him.
Mandela was an old man when he married his 3rd wife Graca, a former First Lady, both of them very mature and worldly wise. He spent his last years with her. It is however the image, the persona of Winnie that captivated the world.
One used to hear Mandela being castigated for divorcing Winnie - by all accounts a bitter parting - with some saying that Winnie waited for many decades for him to be freed from jail, whatever she did he should have forgiven her, etc. But then again, Mandela was always a very proud man.
The stories abounded - many of them facts really - that Winnie did many terrible things, terrorised fellow blacks, young and old with some of them ending up dead; that she had a number of boyfriends and lovers; that she stole or misused public funds when she became part of government, etc.
But did she deserve to be treated with disdain, disliked by Mandela in what should have been the twilight of their lives? ... This is another very interesting aspect of the legend, Mandela's life.
March 31, 2008
Nelson Mandela is a worldwide icon but not everyone knows about the struggles and strength of his wife Winnie who is a inspiration herself. Her resilient nature and unwavering spirit is one to be admired, cherished and emulated.
February 17, 2021
An amazing book about one of the most inspirational women I have ever read about. Will definitely be reading another book about Winnie soon!
February 24, 2008
This was written before she fell out of favor with Nelson. An interesting look at a woman's life under apartheid.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews