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Anthony Sampson Anthony Terrel Seward Sampson was born on 3 August 1926 and was to become one of the greatest journalists and writers on contemporary affairs of the twentieth century. He was educated at Westminster School, joined the Royal Navy at the end of the Second World War and later continued his education at Christ Church, Oxford. Feeling a sense of alienation from post-war Britain he seized the chance to work in South Africa on a new black magazine called Drum. And so began a love affair with South Africa and a friendship with Nelson Mandela that lasted until his death in December 2004. He later returned to the United Kingdom to join The Observer, where he worked from 1955 to 66 and while there he wrote the unique and legendary Anatomy of Britain. Sampson wrote a number of bestsellers that dissected political and business power in the 1960s and 70s, and went on to become the official biographer of Nelson Mandela at the end of the twentieth century. Sampson never missed an opportunity to return to South Africa. In 1964 he attended the Rivonia trial and was invited to advise Mandela on his famous speech from the dock - and gave Mandela, who was facing the risk of execution and 26 years in jail, the African National Congress salute in the court. His life is detailed in his autobiography The Anatomist. Extras Reviews, News & Interviews: Anthony Sampson remembered at the launch of The Anatomist Maureen Isaacson on Anthony Sampson and the creation of The Anatomist