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Long Walk to Freedom (Little Brown, 1994)

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography written by South African President Nelson Mandela, and first published in 1994 by Little Brown & Co. The book profiles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison. Under the apartheid government, Mandela was regarded as a terrorist and jailed on the infamous Robben Island for his role as a leader of the then-outlawed African National Congress (ANC). He later achieved international recognition for his leadership as president in rebuilding the country’s once segregationist society. The last chapters of the book describe his political ascension, and his belief that the struggle still continued against apartheid in South Africa. Mandela dedicated his book to “my six children, Madiba and Makaziwe (my first daughter) who are now deceased, and to Makgatho, Makaziwe, Zenani and Zindzi, whose support and love I treasure; to my twenty-one grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who give me great pleasure; and to all my comrades, friends and fellow South Africans whom I serve and whose courage, determination and patriotism remain my source of inspiration.”

The book won the Alan Paton Award in 1995, and has been published in numerous languages, including an Afrikaans translation by Antjie Krog. Long Walk to Freedom has been adapted into a film titled Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom directed by Justin Chadwick, written by William Nicholson, and produced by Anant Singh. Mandela personally awarded the film rights to the book to Singh’s company some years before 2009. Singh believes that as the film is based on Mandela’s own writing, it will be the “definitive” biopic of him. English actor Idris Elba portrays Mandela in the film. The film was limited released on November 29, 2013 in the United States. Full release happened on Christmas Day 2013 in the United States. When the film was shown in London for Prince William and his wife, Nelson Mandela’s death was announced.