Good Morning, Mr. Mandela

A Memoir

By: Zelda la Grange

Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh, Zelda la Grange

A white Afrikaner, Zelda la Grange grew up in segregated South Africa, supporting the regime and the rules of apartheid. Her conservative family referred to the imprisoned Nelson Mandela as "a terrorist". Yet just a few years after his release and the end of apartheid, she would be traveling the world by Mr. Mandela’s side, having grown to respect and cherish the man she would come to call "Khulu", or "Grandfather".

Good Morning, Mr. Mandela tells the extraordinary story of how a young woman’s life, beliefs, prejudices - everything she once believed - were utterly transformed by the man she had been taught was the enemy. It is the incredible journey of an awkward, terrified young secretary in her 20s who rose from a job in a government typing pool to become one of the president’s most loyal and devoted associates.

This audiobook offers a rare, intimate portrait of Nelson Mandela and his remarkable life as well as moving proof of the power we all have to change. Includes an introduction read by the author as well as an author interview.

©2014 Zelda la Grange Proprietary Ltd. Recorded by arrangement withAllen Lane, an imprint of Penguin Books. (P)2014 W.F. Howes Ltd.

Critic reviews

"This story proves the power of making politics personal and is an important reminder of the lessons Madiba taught us all." (President Bill Clinton)

"President Nelson Mandela’s choice of the young Afrikaner typist Zelda la Grange as his most trusted aide embodied his commitment to reconciliation in South Africa. She repaid his trust with loyalty and integrity. I have the highest regard for her." (Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu)

Terrible Accent by the Narrator

I have enjoyed Adjoa Andoh's readings of The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, and even though she acted in "Invictus", a movie about Nelson Mandela, she simply cannot do a credible or authentic accent of either Zelda la Grange or Nelson Mandela. I cannot understand why producers of audiobooks about Nelson Mandela have failed so monumentally in getting narrators that can do the job.

There are plenty of competent South Africans who would read this book and get the pronunciation of "la Grange" and "Mandela" correct. An example would be the person who interviews Zelda la Grange at the end of the book.

It is agonizing for a South African to listen to 14 hours of mangled words like this. I'm returning this book in disgust at the publishers. Sorry, Zelda!

Great book, Poor Nareation

I listened to about a third of it and couldn’t finish it because of the mispronounced place names, bad accents etc. I will buy the book and read it instead.

Wonderful Book- Narrator should have been South African

As a South African I absolutely adored this story but had to cringe with the bad pronunciation of so many words and accents.

Touching, authentic account of serving an icon

Touching, first hand account of a special relationship with Madiba! So sad to read about the events at the end of his life

powerful beyond meassure

I grew up in South Africa, never really understanding the greatness that Mr Madiba shared to kindly.
The book is a wonderful telling of experiences and growth, of loving fiercely and of saying goodbye. At points I laughed with her self directed jokes and sobbed my heart out at the loss we all suffered. I recommend this book whole-heartedly.