Lodge reveals how Mandela drew moral and political strength from encounters in which everyday courtesy, consideration, and even generosity softened conflict. Indeed, the lessons Mandela learned as a child about the importance of defeating one's opponents without dishonoring them were deeply engrained. They shaped a politics of grace and honor that, notwithstanding its conservatism, was probably the only politics that could have enabled South Africa's relatively peaceful transition to democracy. Here then is a new and highly revealing look at one of the most celebrated political figures of our time, illuminating a pivotal moment in African and indeed world history.