Anthony Sampson, who has known Mandela since 1951, was given unprecedented access to his subject, including extensive conversations with him, and inspection of all his letters through 27 years in prison, his original unpublished jail autobiography and the official prison records.

He has unearthed for the first time British and American diplomatic and intelligence reports on Mandela’s political influence; and he has been able to interview hundreds of colleagues, friends and family – including Mandela’s three wives – to provide candid insights into his domestic life. He thus provides a new picture of Mandela’s private and public life, and the tragic tension between them.

Sampson, who passed away at age 78 in December 2004 only days after completing this update, was a well-known journalist in London and the author of several best-sellers including Anatomy of Britain and The Seven Sisters, a former trustee of the Guardian and Observer and chairman of the Society of Authors. He has remained closely involved with South Africa - which he revisited every year.