Customer Reviews

Prisoner In The Garden~Nelson Mandela

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The book documents Nelson Mandela's long and unjust incarceration. It depicts a media visit to Robben Island. There are pictures of prisoners tending the garden while incarcerated.

This volume has many memoirs, oral accounts, artifacts used by Nelson Mandela, structures named after him and the official record of the Presidential tenure. A copy of the prison release is contained in the book. It was signed by President FW De Klerk and countersigned by HJ Coetsee. The daily visits are diarized
in a lengthy prison log.

This work documents a wealth of historical facts for future
generations of South Africans and historians everywhere.
It is an important testimony to the years of involuntary
bondage within the context of the old apartheid system.

The current and future generations will have a deep appreciation
of the power of forgiveness and reconciliation bestowed freely
by Nelson Mandela after years of an unjust detention.
The book attests to the wisdom of documenting the travesties
of justice and then putting the past behind so that the
society at-large can move forward to rebuild .

I have been for many years a very interested reader of non-violent leaders, mainly MLK and Gandhi. The Mandela that shines through in this book recalls the spirits of those other great leaders.

Mandela's negotiation skills shine through along with his humanity. We are confronted with many of his letters, some of which demonstrated frustration at censorship, some of which showed his tremendous skills negotiating with a government that held him prisoner. It is outstanding to see a man take power from a prison cell, and negotiate in a position of strenght with a government that holds total control over his life.

The main aim of the book is not the one I am reflecting. The book is in fact a reflection of Mandela's life in prison and all the records that have been gathered of his time there (and the interesting stories of each record). This is not a history book or even a biographical book -- if you are looking for those, look elsewhere. This is a record (with a lot of pictures) of a time in his life and his new project, in the form of the Center for Memory, as an attempt to avoid the mistakes of the past by remembering them.

This is a very interesting book. I have not read his biography, so I cannot compare, though I am impelled to read it now. Mandela is an outstanding man, a towering figure of the 20th century that helped usher in the 21st. One finishes this book with faith restored.

This is a very fascinating read and a fitting tribute to Mr. Nelson Mandela, one of the giants of the 20th century. After reading this book, you will get a better sense of Mandela's humanity and humility; qualities that have made him the most respected statesman of our time. Highly recommended!

I had the impression that the book was new. The dust-cover was marked and four pages had not been cut at the top right hand conner. i needed the book for research and very quickly. If not I would have returned the book.