SAMPSON, Anthony. Mandela. The Authorised Biography. [London], Harper Collins, 1999.
8vo. Original boards and dust wrappers; pp. xxvi, 678, black and white photo plates; apart from light toning due to paper stock, as usual, fine; provenance: from the estate of Gritta Weil.
First edition, signed and inscribed by Jo Menell, who co-directed the 1996 official film biography of Nelson Mandela Mandela: Son of Africa, Father of a Nation. The inscription reads: 'Grita - Whose extraordinary love and courage has made the suffering of one great, great mutual friend Gavin, bearable. With admiration and love, Jo Mennel. Sept. 99. London'.
Gritta Weil (1924-2009), a refugee from Germany, worked for The Observer from 1945 to 1984, and was a close friend of the travel writer and journalist for the same paper, Gavin Young (1928-2001), who is best remembered for his 1977 book Return to the Marshes, based on his life with the Marsh Arabs of Iraq. This was followed by an account of his travels in Mesopotamia in 1980.
#2076909