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Nelson Mandela and the Robben Island Bible, The Mitchell Library

   
Nelson Mandela and the Robben Island Bible

Scotland and the Commonwealth Exhibition

The Mitchell Library

A unique opportunity to see The Robben Island Bible, a book of Shakespeare’s complete works, disguised as a religious text and smuggled into Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was a prisoner.

The book became one of the most treasured documents on the island and has been brought to Glasgow for this exhibition by Sonny Venkatrathnam, a South African political prisoner from 1972 to 1978. He asked fellow prisoners to choose their favourite passage from Shakespeare and sign their name alongside their chosen quote. The thirty-two signatures, includes those of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada and Mac Maharaj, all luminaries in the struggle to establish a democratic South Africa.

The diary will be on display at The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow, from 19th July, 2014 for three months.

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