The book is the autobiography of the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

Born in a country torn by racial discrimination, Nelson Mandela dedicated his entire life fighting against apartheid and trying to achieve racial equality for his people. In Long Walk To Freedom, he tells the story of his life and struggles, a long and difficult journey to achieve liberation.

In the first section, he recounts his childhood days of growing up in a small village called Mvezo in the Eastern Cape Province. His family belonged to the royal Thembu dynasty; his great-grandfather was the king of the Thembu people. He reflects upon his early education, his days at the university, and his involvement with student politics.

In the next section of the book, he elaborates upon the early anti-apartheid movement with his induction into the African National Congress in 1950. He goes on to narrate the incidents that led up to his imprisonment for twenty-seven years and how he kept the fight going strong even from his prison cell.

Released in 1995, the book follows Mandela's journey till after his release from prison and his eventual election as the first black president of the South Africa. It received the Alan Paton Award in its year of release.