Nelson Mandela

Author: (British) Ping Chak
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-01-01
Features: The 20th century, which is about to pass, was a century of unprecedented progress in human civilization and a century that experienced the baptism of two world wars. In this century, humanity unveiled the mysteries of the atom, detonated atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs; this century saw humans land on the moon and prepare to explore Mars; this century witnessed a leap in humanity's understanding of life due to the discovery of DNA structure and cloning technology, bringing both excitement and bewilderment; this century transformed our world into such a small place with the advent of airplanes, satellites, television, computers, and the Internet; this century overturned almost all of our original concepts about language, logic, cognition, mathematics, economics, and even time and space, making this world so rich and diverse. The reason humanity achieved these unprecedented, astonishing accomplishments lies in the contributions of outstanding great thinkers, scientists, and artists. At the turn of the new millennium, the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press published this series of bilingual illustrated biographies of world figures, which holds special commemorative significance. This series carefully selects ten representative great figures from the modern and contemporary periods, including Charles Darwin, the founder of the theory of evolution; Albert Einstein, the father of the theory of relativity; Stephen Hawking, a representative of the theory of the universe and space-time; Jean-Paul Sartre, the synthesizer of existentialist philosophy; Jacques Lacan, the new authority in psychoanalysis; John Maynard Keynes, a pioneer in the theory of national capitalism; Pablo Picasso, a master of cubist painting; and James Joyce, a giant of stream-of-consciousness literature. Truly a galaxy of stars. Publishing this series is beneficial for popularizing natural and social sciences, improving people's quality, and aligning with the mission of the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press to "record human civilization and bridge world cultures." Therefore, it can be seen as a gift from the FLTRP to the millennium. The greatest feature and advantage of this series lie in its accessibility and visual appeal. In today's world, where television and film dominate as the dominant media, the era of visual culture and the prevalence of attention economy may have arrived. The illustrated format of this series is, in a sense, a product that meets the needs of this era's development. We hope that the vivid, engaging, and humorous illustrations paired with easy-to-understand authentic English, faithful Chinese translations, and concise annotations will greatly enhance readers' interest in learning English and ultimately strengthen the confidence of Chinese people in mastering this international communication tool in the era of globalization. This book vividly portrays an outstanding figure whose life is a mirror of modern South Africa. Born in 1918, Mandela was the son of a tribal chief and actively participated in political activities from a young age. In 1952, he was banned from public appearance for the first time. After the Sharpeville massacre in 1961, he was tried and acquitted of treason charges, and his activities were subsequently moved underground. Two years later, he was sentenced to life in prison after being betrayed. This unjust verdict inspired millions of South Africans and marked the end of the colonial era. In Mandela, we see a man who, despite enduring the most brutal racism in the world, maintained his dignity and beliefs, a quality that earned him. Several years ago, the African National Congress (ANC) was marginalized by Western countries, but today, its leader is a world-renowned politician and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the first Black president in the history of South Africa.