Good Morning, Mr. Mandela - by Zelda La Grange (Paperback)

About the Book

One of Mandela's three private secretaries and now working for the Nelson Mandela Foundation, "La Grange pays tribute to Nelson Mandela as she knew him: a teacher who gave her the most valuable lessons of her life. The Mr. Mandela we meet in these pages is a man who refused to be defined by his past, who forgave and respected all, but who was also frank, teasing, and direct. As he renewed his country, he also freed La Grange from a closed world of fear and mistrust, giving her life true meaning"--Amazon.com.

Book Synopsis

"An important reminder of the lessons Madiba taught us all."--President Bill Clinton

There are numerous books about Nelson Mandela, but Good Morning, Mr. Mandela is the first by a trusted member of his inner circle. In addition to offering a rare close portrait, Zelda la Grange pays tribute to Madiba as she knew him--a teacher who gave her the most valuable lessons of her life. Growing up in apartheid South Africa, La Grange, a white Afrikaner, feared the imprisoned Nelson Mandela as "a terrorist." Yet she would become one of his most devoted associates for almost two decades. Inspiring and deeply felt, this book honors a great man's lasting gift.

Review Quotes

"In Good Morning, Mr. Mandela, Zelda la Grange recounts her remarkable life at the right hand of the man we both knew and loved. It's a tribute to both of them--to Madiba's eye for talent and his capacity for trust and to Zelda's courage to take on a great challenge and her capacity for growth. This story proves the power of making politics personal and is an important reminder of the lessons Madiba taught us all."--President Bill Clinton

"Leadership is the rarest resource in this world, the ability to inspire the best and the brightest to serve the public good. Nelson Mandela did this at the government level with his official cabinet, but he also did it with his 'kitchen cabinet' of trusted advisers. Zelda's view of his extraordinary impact is uniquely personal. Her leadership is also of the highest order: service."--Bono, lead singer of U2 and cofounder of ONE

"President Nelson Mandela's choice of the young Afrikaner typist Zelda la Grange as his most trusted aide embodied his commitment to reconciliation in South Africa. She repaid his trust with loyalty and integrity. I have the highest regard for her."--Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

"Zelda la Grange has a singular perspective on Nelson Mandela, having served as his longtime personal aide, confidante and close friend. She is a dear friend to both of us and a touchstone to all of us who loved Madiba. Her story of their journey together demonstrates how a man who transformed an entire nation also had the power to transform the life of one extraordinary woman."--Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary, actor, producer of Invictus

About the Author

ZELDA LA GRANGE left the South African government to work for the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2002. She lives in Pretoria, South Africa.