Long walk to freedom : the autobiography of Nelson Mandela.

Includes index.

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiographical work written by Nelson Mandela, and published in 1995 by Little Brown & Co. The book profiles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison. The last chapters of the book describe his political ascension, and his belief that the struggle continues against apartheid in South Africa.Within the first parts of the autobiography, Mandela describes his upbringing as a child and adolescent in South Africa, and being connected to the royal Thembu dynasty. His childhood name was Rolihlahla, which is loosely translated as "pulling the branch of a tree," or a euphemism for "troublemaker." Later in the text, Mandela describes his education at a Thembu college called Clarkebury, and later at the strict Healdtown school, where students were rigorously put in routines. He mentions his education at the University of Fort Hare, and his practice of law later on. Within the second part of the book, Mandela introduces political and social aspects of apartheid in South Africa, and the influences of politicians such as Daniel François Malan who implemented the nadir of African freedoms, as he officially commenced the apartheid policies. Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1950 and describes his organization of guerrilla tactics and underground organizations to battle against apartheid. In 1961, Mandela was convicted for inciting people to strike and leaving the country without a passport and sentenced to five years imprisonment. However, he was shortly thereafter sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage in what was known as the "Rivonia Trial," by Justice Dr. Quartus de Wet, instead of a possible death sentence. He describes prison time on Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison. His 28 year tenure in prison was marked by the cruelty of Afrikaner guards, backbreaking labor, and sleeping in minuscule cells which were nearly uninhabitable. He dosen't accuse Gregory of fabricating a friendship with his prisoner.