Review of John Carlin's Invictus

“Nelson Mandela is a man of destiny” -F.W. De Klerk (140). How did a man who spent 27 years in prison change the hearts and minds of people who called him “terrorist in chief?” Is it possible for one man’s determination and careful planning change the direction of a country so set on the norm? John Carlin tells the story of Nelson Mandela through the eyes of people close to him as well as through the eyes of his enemies. Both friends and enemies portray just his presence as overwhelming. Invictus tells the story of how Mandela used his overwhelming presence to unite a country through the sport of rugby. The story begins on the morning of the 1995 Rugby World Cup championship game. The rest of the book details how he got to that point. Starting with his time on Robben Island as a prisoner for 18 years, where he was able to think and plan for a South Africa without apartheid. His last few years of prison he is allowed secret conversations with high ranking members of the National Party. In these conversations he uses his overwhelming presence to affect the hearts of powerful South African leaders and he is eventually allowed a visit from the President of South Africa which leads to his release. After his release he begins negotiations to end apartheid which leads to him becoming president. As president he has the daunting task of uniting a divided country. After many years of dealings with the Afrikaners (majority of white population), he decides rugby is how he will unite the country. The rest of the book details the events leading up to the 1995 Rugby World Cup championship game using friends and enemies of Mandela to detail the impact a sport could have on a country. Carlin tells a story of how Nelson Mandela used his overwhelming presence and political savvy to save a divided country from civil war with the game of rugby. Most people who spend 27 years in prison would become mentally unstable, unable to adapt to society. Nelson Mandela used his