It had always been Nelson Mandela’s intention to publish a full account of his time as President of South Africa, and the archives of the Nelson Mandela Foundation contain a substantial but incomplete personally written draft of the book.
It has been the wish of Mandela’s widow, Graça Machel, to fulfil his intention to complete this sequel. So, this manuscript, together with other extensive archive material, will be brought together to offer the President's unique perspective on the first democratically elected government in South Africa's history.
Yet to be titled, the sequel to Long Walk to Freedom will be published in 2016 and will provide readers with both an unprecedented account of Mandela’s extraordinary presidency, and a deep personal insight into the man behind the international statesman. It will be candid and clear-eyed about the difficulties he faced while in office, but also about the fault lines that run through contemporary South Africa.
Editorial Director Georgina Morley said: “Pan Macmillan has already had the privilege of working with the Nelson Mandela Foundation on three books: Conversations With Myself, Nelson Mandela By Himself: The Authorised Book of Quotations and Long Walk to Freedom (the picture book) adapted by Chris van Wyk and illustrated by Paddy Bouma.
“Working with the Foundation on this remarkable project will be an even greater privilege. The sequel to Long Walk to Freedom will not only tell Mr Mandela’s story from his release to his retirement from government, but will also be a rallying cry that will remind readers everywhere what he stood for – and how it is still possible for his vision and his political philosophy positively to change not only South Africa, but the world.”
Anthony Forbes Watson added: “The unique, uplifting achievement that is Mandela's life continues to resonate around a troubled world and my colleagues in South Africa, India and Australasia are as proud as we are in the UK, to publish this extraordinary testament.”
Mrs Graça Machel, former First Lady of South Africa, commented, “Madiba started working on a manuscript provisionally titled The Presidential Years in 1998. He wanted to put on record his own reflections of those important years in his life (1994-1999), when he was President of South Africa.
“The book he had in mind was to be a natural progression from his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom. Circumstances did not allow him to complete the project. I am very pleased that a team comprising former senior advisers of his have accepted responsibility for completing this unfinished task on his behalf.”
Macmillan acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to the sequel of Long Walk to Freedom from Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown, representing the Nelson Mandela Foundation and PQ Blackwell.
For all press enquiries please contact Laura Hammond at Pan Macmillan:
Tel: 011 731-3440
Email: laura@panmacmillan.co.za
For all enquiries for Curtis Brown regarding translation rights, please contact Kate Cooper:
Tel: Kate Cooper 0207 393 4422
Email: katec@curtisbrown.co.uk
