Nelson Mandela became an icon in his own lifetime, and in the years since his passing his accomplishments seem ever more remarkable. But who was he in private? This collection of 100 letters reveals how the anti-Apartheid activist maintained his spirit during 27 years of imprisonment. It includes longing love letters to his wife Winnie, heartrending notes to his children, and articulations of a philosophy of human rights that resonates today. Taken together, the letters form a self-portrait of South Africa's founding father, a fitting tribute to a man who refused to compromise his moral values in the face of opposition.