Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage

by Jonny Steinberg
Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Biography and Memoir
Technical
  • ID: 4468
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9781984897473
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2025-06-10
  • Reviews: 3

Winnie and Nelson offers a groundbreaking exploration of one of the most significant political marriages of the 20th century. Drawing on never-before-seen material, Jonny Steinberg delves into the intricate dynamics between Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, highlighting their shared political ideals and the growing rift between them during Mandela's imprisonment. The book portrays their relationship as a modern epic, where personal trauma and political ambition intertwine, affecting not just the couple but an entire nation. /n/n Steinberg's narrative is both powerful and intimate, revealing the longings, obsessions, and deceits that characterized their union. It's a story of love and commitment, revolution and retribution, and the ultimate contest to decide how apartheid should be fought. The book is not just a political biography but a Shakespearean drama that explores timeless questions of power, sacrifice, and the cost of freedom.

Reviews
Johannesburg Review of Books · Zikhona Valela · 2023-10-13
fascinating 3.75

The book is a fascinating but flawed exploration of the Mandelas' marriage, offering valuable insights into their relationship and the political landscape of their time. The reviewer appreciates the depth of research but notes some shortcomings.

Zikhona Valela finds Jonny Steinberg's book to be a fascinating yet flawed enquiry into the marriage of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. The reviewer commends the depth of research and the valuable insights into their relationship, but also points out some flaws in the narrative. The book is seen as an important contribution to understanding the political and personal dynamics of the Mandelas' lives. Despite its flaws, it is considered a significant and engaging read.

Quick quotes

    A fascinating, if flawed, enquiry

    Valuable insights into their relationship

    An important contribution to understanding the Mandelas' lives

Financial Times · 2023-05-17
outstanding 4.50

The book is an outstanding biography that balances sympathy with unflinching accounts of the discord within the Mandelas' marriage. It is praised for its depth and honesty.

The reviewer from the Financial Times describes Jonny Steinberg's book as an outstanding biography that effectively balances sympathy with unflinching accounts of the discord that plagued the Mandelas' marriage. The book is praised for its depth and honesty, offering a comprehensive look into the lives of these iconic figures. The reviewer appreciates the nuanced portrayal of their relationship and the political context that shaped their lives. It is seen as a significant and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    Jonny Steinberg's outstanding biography

    Balances sympathy with unflinching accounts of the discord

    A comprehensive look into the lives of these iconic figures

The Guardian · 2023-05-14
insightful 4.50

The book offers a poignant and insightful look into the complex marriage of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, highlighting their contrasting personalities and the political turmoil they endured. It is both a beautiful and sad portrait of their relationship.

The reviewer found the book to be a deeply moving exploration of the Mandelas' marriage, which is portrayed as a union of opposites. The narrative is both beautiful and sad, offering a nuanced understanding of two significant historical figures. The reviewer appreciates the insightful study of their personalities and the political context that shaped their lives. The book is described as a gripping and important read, providing a profound look into their relationship and the challenges they faced.

Quick quotes

    A beautiful and sad portrait of the Mandelas' marriage of opposites

    An insightful study of two huge characters

    A gripping and important book

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