On the Contrary: Leading the Opposition in the New South Africa, Tony Leon

Ist Edition Trade Paperback, Excellent condition.

As difficult to pigeon-hole as the man himself, part memoir, part biography, part political polemic, On the Contrary is a brilliant and timely contribution to South Africa’s ‘history in the making.’ Controversial, principled, plain-spoken – Tony Leon, leader of the opposition for thirteen years, is all that and more. Destined from early life as the son of a High Court Judge to make a major impact as an ironclad liberal, he has nonetheless interrogated his idealism in strategic terms and left the political arena strewn with defeated adversaries and old-style conservatives content to let human rights slip for the sake of an easy life. Without fear or favour he also confronted the new elite wherever or whenever they exceeded the bounds of parliamentary, political or private probity, as they often did.