A short walk in a long journey : an essay on the South African 1994 election

A Short Walk in a Long Journey is a story about an American election observer's experience in the 1994 South African election. This election marked the beginning of democracy in South Africa with the election of Nelson Mandela as president. A Short Walk in a Long Journey is a non-fictional narrative, rewritten 19 years later relying upon the copious notes taken during the adventure and vivid memories. There are several climatic points in the story and the final section is an analysis of present day South Africa, largely based upon research done by Goldman Sachs and UBS. The title is a reference to Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom . Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home. An American recounts his experience as an election observer in South Africa in this enlightening essay on the end of apartheid and the power of democracy. In 1994, South African citizens of all races were able to vote for their president for the first time in history. This election, which delivered a historic win for Nelson Mandela, marked the end of apartheid and the beginning of democracy in the country. An icon of the struggle for South African liberation, Mandela had just been released from prison a few years earlier, having served an unjust sentence for opposing an unjust government. In A Short Walk in a Long Journey , Michael A. Reid recounts his journey to South Africa to volunteer as an election observer. He chronicles his experience bearing witness to history and helping to ensure that this momentous election was truly free and fair. Written twenty years after the election, this volume reflects back on that pivotal time and on how South Africa has changed since.