Dimensions
129 x 198 x 22mm
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2008
'The train of events leading up o what has been called South Africa's epiphany has long been crying out for a multilayered account and it is to John Carlin's eternal credit that he has written it. This is not so much a sporting volume as a wonderfully crafted and beautifully written work of modern political history.' Matthew Syed, The Times
The Rugby World Cup final of 1995 was the last act of the most improbable exercise in mass seduction ever seen: Nelson Mandela's conquest of the hearts of white South Africa. Playing The Enemy is the thrilling account of how the most charismatic political statesman of our time deployed political genius, charm and generous vision to pull off this most unlikely of miracles.
'This outstanding book is not so much about rugby as about the ability of Mandela to harness the symbolic power of sport. It shows us that sport gains its power not only from the achievements of its players, but also from the dreams of those who watch them.' Daily Telegraph 'Books of the Year'
'Sport generates plenty of fine writing but very few books match the historical sweep and world-shaking urgency of this one . . . Carlin juggles events on and off the pitch without a slip, as he explores a rare case of sporting obsession that healed rather than harmed.' Independent 'Books of the Year'
'This revelatory examination of Nelson Mandela's political genius . . . [A] tight, gripping and powerful book that shines a light on a moment of hope, not just for one nation but the whole world.' Daily Express
