Playing the Enemy

Description:

In 1985, Nelson Mandela, then in prison for 23 years, set about winning over the fiercest proponents of apartheid, from his jailers to the head of South Africa's military. First he earned his freedom and then he won the presidency in the nation's first free election in 1994. But he knew that South Africa was still dangerously divided. If he couldn't unite his country in a visceral, emotional way--and fast--it would collapse into chaos. He would need all the charisma and strategic acumen he had honed during half a century of activism, and he'd need a cause all South Africans could share. Mandela picked one of the more farfetched causes imaginable--the national rugby team, the Springboks, who would host the sport's World Cup in 1995. Author Carlin, former South Africa bureau chief for the London Independent, offers a portrait of the greatest statesman of our time in action.--From publisher description.

subjects: Politics and government,  Political prisoners,  Presidents,  Springboks (Rugby team),  Biography,  History,  New York Times reviewed,  Mandela, nelson, 1918-2013,  Rugby football players,  Political prisoners, south africa,  South africa, politics and government,  Rugby football,  Apartheid,  Race relations,  Social conditions,  Prisonniers politiques,  Biographies,  Politique et gouvernement,  Présidents,  Rugby,  Aspect politique,  Histoire,  Relations raciales,  Conditions sociales,  Political aspects,  South africa, history,  Sports, south africa,  Sports and state