New book portrays anti-apartheid legend Nelson Mandela’s marriage and struggle

A powerful new book on Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has just been published. Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage is at once a double biography of South Africa’s two famous liberation leaders and a historical love story about their personal lives.
Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years during apartheid and went on to become the country’s first democratic president. For her part Madikizela-Mandela was persecuted relentlessly by the white minority government as she organised the resistance. After democracy, the couple divorced. Jonny Steinberg, political scientist and award-winning author, answers six questions about his book.

What’s the premise of the book?
Winnie and Nelson were consummate performers who wanted the story of their marriage to tell the story of South Africa’s struggle for freedom. The premise of the book is that their marriage really does embody the tale of modern South Africa, but not as they intended. So the idea is that the book is at once about a couple, a nation, and a series of ideas about freedom, forgiveness and vengeance.

What research did you undertake?
Winnie Mandela possessed a nuanced and multifaceted personality that intersected with her political worldview. With her marriage to Nelson Mandela, she viewed herself not just metaphorically but genuinely as the embodiment of black South Africa. This self-perception fueled her unwavering commitment.

Author is Senior lecturer in African Studies, Yale University.