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geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Mandela and the General' by John Carlin with art by Oriol Malet is a graphic novel about Mandela's fight for a peaceful government transition.
When Mandela was released from prison, it was in to a very chaotic country. There were outbreaks of violence and deaths. It could have spiraled in to and open war with who knows how many casualties. Mandela found the one man in the opposition he could talk to and scheduled a series of secret meetings. That man was the white supremacist General Viljoen.
This was a pretty fascinating story. I had heard glimpses of it, but enjoyed reading this account of it. The art is pretty great too, especially when it goes in to full page drawings with the country of South Africa as a character's shadow.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Plough Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
When Mandela was released from prison, it was in to a very chaotic country. There were outbreaks of violence and deaths. It could have spiraled in to and open war with who knows how many casualties. Mandela found the one man in the opposition he could talk to and scheduled a series of secret meetings. That man was the white supremacist General Viljoen.
This was a pretty fascinating story. I had heard glimpses of it, but enjoyed reading this account of it. The art is pretty great too, especially when it goes in to full page drawings with the country of South Africa as a character's shadow.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Plough Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
jwinchell's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Everything about this book is perfect- the execution, the storytelling, the relationships, the documentation of history. I loved the narration by General Vilojen, in conversation with author and journalist John Carlin, looking back at his time as head of the Afrikaner Volksfront. Rooted in Viljoen’s home with pacifist brother Braam and black servants, he tells South Africa’s story of Mandela’s release from prison up to Mandela’s election as President. I was struck by Mandela’s capacity for empathy and how it was his connection to Viljoen and Afrikaner’s struggles that turned the tide from chaos and war toward peace. The art is staggering. I especially loved the repetition of the continent of Africa, awash with symbolic colors and figures deliberating or making peace with big ideas. This is a must read.
bethtabler's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
Graphic novels are a wonderful way to tell history. Not only does the reader get the subtle nuances of the written word, but they also get a graphic representation. This book does both very well. It is engaging without being over-cramped with facts. Beautifully inked. Definite recommend.
Graphic novels are a wonderful way to tell history. Not only does the reader get the subtle nuances of the written word, but they also get a graphic representation. This book does both very well. It is engaging without being over-cramped with facts. Beautifully inked. Definite recommend.
ogreart's review against another edition
4.0
I knew who Nelson Mandela was. I was alive during the time these events happened. I had no idea all this was going on. The fact that the peaceful change of government that Mandela accomplished was almost thwarted by an armed "white power" movement was new to me. I had never heard of this General Viljoen. But I am glad now that I do. Reading this book gives me some hope for the future. If a country as divided and fractured as South Africa could come together; if a man who started out hating Mandela and thinking he should get the death penalty came to admire and like him; if that is possible, maybe there is some hope for our future as well. Gripping narrative and interesting artwork. I'd say give this book a read.
I received a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
bookishblond's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this little graphic novel! It reminded me of the type of book you would read in school - it's a comic so IT'S FUN, KIDS and it's a TRUE STORY, it's HISTORY! The kids are LEARNING!
Mandela and the General is exactly what it sounds like - a story about Nelson Mandela and General Constand Viljoen, the former chief of apartheid South Africa’s military. The story begins when Mandela is released from prison in 1990, after 27 years as a political prisoner, and spans the first few years after his release, when Mandela led the campaign to negotiate an end Apartheid and eventually became South Africa's first democratically elected leader, and a black leader at that.
This graphic novel highlights the violence that accompanied Mandela's campaign, and the human dignity of both Mandela and Viljoen, who is not depicted as a villain (which might have made a better story), but as a man who loved his country just as much as Mandela did, even though his political ideology was vastly different.
The narrator of the story is John Carlin himself, a journalist who sits down with both men and interviews them. This book didn't have to have this format; it might have been easier to shape the narrative around Mandela and Viljoen themselves rather than a third party, but it really added another dimension to the story, which sets this graphic novel apart.
It seemed to me that this book was intended for a younger audience, but I would recommend it to anyone who would like an introduction to Nelson Mandela, or generally, readers who enjoy both history and graphic novels.
Release date November 5, 2018. Available for pre-order now.
ARC provided by Plough Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The images above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Mandela and the General is exactly what it sounds like - a story about Nelson Mandela and General Constand Viljoen, the former chief of apartheid South Africa’s military. The story begins when Mandela is released from prison in 1990, after 27 years as a political prisoner, and spans the first few years after his release, when Mandela led the campaign to negotiate an end Apartheid and eventually became South Africa's first democratically elected leader, and a black leader at that.
This graphic novel highlights the violence that accompanied Mandela's campaign, and the human dignity of both Mandela and Viljoen, who is not depicted as a villain (which might have made a better story), but as a man who loved his country just as much as Mandela did, even though his political ideology was vastly different.
The narrator of the story is John Carlin himself, a journalist who sits down with both men and interviews them. This book didn't have to have this format; it might have been easier to shape the narrative around Mandela and Viljoen themselves rather than a third party, but it really added another dimension to the story, which sets this graphic novel apart.
It seemed to me that this book was intended for a younger audience, but I would recommend it to anyone who would like an introduction to Nelson Mandela, or generally, readers who enjoy both history and graphic novels.
Release date November 5, 2018. Available for pre-order now.
ARC provided by Plough Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The images above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
atreveteylee's review against another edition
4.0
Impactante conocer todo el trasfondo de la negociación hacia La Paz! Me enseño tanto en tan poquitas hojas, súper recomendado.
Es curioso la sensación de historia antigua que se siente, y luego analizar que solo paso hace menos de 30 años puesto que todo se solucionó Justo unos días antes de que yo naciera en 1994. Ahí es donde notas cuán grande es el mundo y como antes vivíamos tan alejados de los problemas y sin conocer, pero me alegra saber que ahora andamos más conectados y podemos vivir más el presente de diferentes personas en el mundo
Es curioso la sensación de historia antigua que se siente, y luego analizar que solo paso hace menos de 30 años puesto que todo se solucionó Justo unos días antes de que yo naciera en 1994. Ahí es donde notas cuán grande es el mundo y como antes vivíamos tan alejados de los problemas y sin conocer, pero me alegra saber que ahora andamos más conectados y podemos vivir más el presente de diferentes personas en el mundo
alwroteabook's review against another edition
5.0
The title tells the story of this graphic novel, but for a relatively short work, it packs in a lot, including the perspective of the different factions as Mandela aims for peace and how he dealt with each of them. An excellent read.
kristy_k's review against another edition
5.0
“We must strive to find a political solution that reconciled White fears with black aspirations.”
I’ve found I really enjoy history told in graphic novel form. It’s informative while not being bogged down in superfluous detail and it makes history more engaging. I feel using this form of media would greatly help teaching children and teens and wish we could see more of it being used this way.
I read Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, [b:Long Walk to Freedom|318431|Long Walk to Freedom|Nelson Mandela|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327997342s/318431.jpg|2501119], earlier this year and Mandela and the General is a great supplemental piece for it. This takes place after Mandela was released from prison when General Constand Viljoen led white nationalist against the new changes coming about due to the end of apartheid. Eventually the two meet and have discussions which lead to the first all South African elections being held peacefully.
Author John Carlin has the unique insight into this struggle between Mandela and Viljoen. He’s stationed in South Africa as an foreign news correspondent and meets both of the men. From this and countless other interviews he’s able to create this narrative while using illustrations to further help describe the events.
There were some really cool renderings in (what looked like) watercolor that portrayed the shadow of something as something else. I liked the symbolism it gave and felt it added to the story.
After reading his autobiography and this graphic novel, I have to add Mandela as one of the people in history I’d want to meet. His story is truly amazing and he selflessly accomplished and helped progress so much in South Africa. It’s truly seeing awing and inspirational.
I’ve found I really enjoy history told in graphic novel form. It’s informative while not being bogged down in superfluous detail and it makes history more engaging. I feel using this form of media would greatly help teaching children and teens and wish we could see more of it being used this way.
I read Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, [b:Long Walk to Freedom|318431|Long Walk to Freedom|Nelson Mandela|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327997342s/318431.jpg|2501119], earlier this year and Mandela and the General is a great supplemental piece for it. This takes place after Mandela was released from prison when General Constand Viljoen led white nationalist against the new changes coming about due to the end of apartheid. Eventually the two meet and have discussions which lead to the first all South African elections being held peacefully.
Author John Carlin has the unique insight into this struggle between Mandela and Viljoen. He’s stationed in South Africa as an foreign news correspondent and meets both of the men. From this and countless other interviews he’s able to create this narrative while using illustrations to further help describe the events.
There were some really cool renderings in (what looked like) watercolor that portrayed the shadow of something as something else. I liked the symbolism it gave and felt it added to the story.
After reading his autobiography and this graphic novel, I have to add Mandela as one of the people in history I’d want to meet. His story is truly amazing and he selflessly accomplished and helped progress so much in South Africa. It’s truly seeing awing and inspirational.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
5.0
There so many books about Nelson Mandela, as this is the 100th anniversary of his birth, and for those of us that lived during the time that he was released, and then moved on to become president, we may not know all the things that happened, as this is such recent history.
And, as an American, I was even further removed from all the nuances of what happened.
This book follows how, once Nelson was released, the retired general, Constand Viljoen, former chief of apartheid South Africa’s military, came between Nelson and the white nationals who did not want to give of white rule. He was really wanted to be left out, but realized, once he was asked, that he had to stop what could have been a blood bath.
Amazing story. Well written.
#MandelaAndTheGeneral #NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And, as an American, I was even further removed from all the nuances of what happened.
This book follows how, once Nelson was released, the retired general, Constand Viljoen, former chief of apartheid South Africa’s military, came between Nelson and the white nationals who did not want to give of white rule. He was really wanted to be left out, but realized, once he was asked, that he had to stop what could have been a blood bath.
Amazing story. Well written.
#MandelaAndTheGeneral #NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.