Alec Russell’s third book, “After Mandela - The Battle for the Soul of South Africa” is a riveting reading for anyone who has even the vaguest interest in South Africa. His incisive and careful writing lays bare the politics and myths of the miraculous but slowly tarnishing fairytale of the ‘rainbow nation’.

His book could be said to be a primer covering most of the social, economic and political issues confronting South Africans today as well as deconstructing South Africa’s recent political history, revealing surprising and often 
unsettling truths.

His style is somewhat academic, footnoted 
and extensively researched, but without detracting from the directness and accessibility of his writing.

What might perhaps be the most revealing is his careful treatment of two of the largest figures on the South African stage, Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki. He provides a fresh, informed and largely unbiased critique of the two, their tangled inter-relationship and the issues that have brought them infamy. A valuable addition to any thinking person’s bookshelf!

Alec is World News Editor of the Financial Times. He covered the end of apartheid and early years of Mandela’s presidency for the Daily Telegraph and iIn 2007, he returned to South Africa for the Financial Times.

Alec Russell will be talking about his book at Waterstone’s in Notting Hill on 17 June at 7pm. For complimentary tickets, please contact richardforeman.chalke@hotmail.co.uk