Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

John Carlin, que cuenta hoy esta historia en Mandela y el general, fue el corresponsal en Sudáfrica del diario británico The Independent entre 1989 y 1995, justo la etapa crítica de todo este proceso. Entrevistó al propio Nelson Mandela y se encontró también con el general Viljoen; esta última conversación sirve de punto de partida para la crónica gráfica de una de las transiciones políticas y sociales más peliagudas de las últimas décadas. El delicado equilibrio de la paz —no una paz social completa, pero sí la evitación de la guerra— dependía de pequeños gestos entre dos personas, y el relato de Carlin hace hincapié sobre el papel que juegan las personalidades individuales durante las crisis históricas; ese factor al que en otros tiempos se conocía como «la nariz de Cleopatra»

Mandela and the General: amazing art, apartheid, uncomfortable povs

I am not sure how I feel about this graphic novel. It was absolutely amazing, but it also borders on a white ‘we were not all bad!’/ ‘not me’ denial. Also- while Mandela is a character in this, but the book is actually more of a transformative view. Follows a man being influenced toward change and the complexity of a white perspective struggling with the upheaval of social structure they were taught was proper.

Nelson Mandela and General Constand Viljoen, the former chief of apartheid South Africa's military. These men are the core of this graphic novel. With distrust and mistreatment sedimented into strata over the years, there is no reason why the outcome of the South African apartheid revolution should have avoided more violence. Yet somehow..

Beginning with the release of Mandela after 27 years of incarceration and ending with the presidential election of the same man, this is a difficult work to read. The South African political and social structures were backward, needing shifting, while factions of white supremacists hid in open sight guised as political groups.

During this time, White Dutch ancestor Afrikaners start to become fearful of change. Viljoen himself is not as extremist as many and sees value in accepting many conversations over tea with Mandela. These conversations ultimately change the course of South African history with Viljoen.

Viljoen was not a super kiss and make up sort of gentleman, but he did have a strong desire to avoid open battle and citizen combat. This was the main driver pushing him to listen to Mandela and support universal suffrage. General Viljoen steps forward to headline the interest of retaining Aparteid in a bid for government seat.

The graphic novel is presented in a series of detailed black and white drawings, and mustard/gold highlights throughout. There are a number of panels feature beautiful rainbow colored shadowing which were striking and well timed.

Review based on a copy supplied by the publisher
( )

Mandela and the General is a beautiful and well-structured non-fiction graphic novel, there's no doubt about that, but it's a very deceptive one. That's as much a missed opportunity as it is a shame. While Constand Vijoen — "the General" — ultimately declined to pursue a civil war, he did so because he knew the Boers would lose, not because he disagreed with the vision of his fascist allies or saw the errors of the collapsing Apartheid regime's ways. As the political situation became ever more clear, it's certainly true that Vijoen slowly-but-steadily positioned himself sufficiently to the center of the worst far-right militants and would-be coup leaders, but this was simple realpolitik. Vijoen saw cooperation as a means to continue the political fight for an independent mini-Apartheid/"whites only" nation within South Africa. A necessary gambit, because it was the only move available. For nearly 30 years after the events of 1994, Vijoen remained an unrepentant and vocal white nationalist separatist. To the very end. Yes, he gave Mandela a respectful eulogy. That's meaningless in the face of decades of political advocacy designed to undermine the project of building a democratic and united South Africa.

This is not to say that we needed another full biography of Mandela in this book's place, though that would be welcome. In truth, it makes sense for international publishers to step back from Mandela being at the forefront of every South African story, to shine a greater and much deserved light on other anti-apartheid leaders, resistance movements and organizations, and the full-fledged people's histories South Africa deserves. Where are the graphic histories of Chris Hani and the uMkhonto we Sizwe, of Steve Biko, of the trade unionist leaders and the thousands upon thousands of Black South Africans who not only survived the daily terror, but successfully organized, against the brutal Apartheid regime? Those are the kinds of non-fiction graphic novels we need on the library shelf. ( )

I loved the illustrations in this. I do wish the first half of the book had spent a little more time on Mandela, but I understand that for the impact of the story to be so great, the reader needed to get as into the General's head as possible. A good, succinct insight into a part of post=apartheid South Africa. An informative read. ( )