He was a child of royalty, born and raised to defend tradition. But his African name--Rolihlahla, meaning tree shaker--hinted at a very different future. Nelson Mandela would spend most of his life shaking his country to its roots.
For challenging the cruel system of apartheid, Mandela would be condemned as South Africa's most notorious outlaw and spend more than twenty-seven years in prison. He would emerge to lead a peaceful revolution, becoming the father of a new South Africa and one of the world's most inspiring heroes.
The new updated edition of New York Times veteran Bill Keller's moving biography looks back on Mandela's life, offering a clear-eyed view of his legacy and bringing his remarkable story to a new generation of readers.