Elita and her life with F.W. de Klerk
Описание книги
Elita traces the life journey of Elizabeth «Elita» Lanaras and her quest for love. Along the way, she experiences some of the most dramatic events in South Africa's transition to democracy, and finally marries the Nobel Peace Prize-winning president who set Mandela free.The archetypal poor little rich girl, Elita was born to millionaire shipping magnates, but left to her own devices and a Swiss nanny before being sent off to a school she hated. Her mother, Nitza, insisted that she spoke French and took an interest only when she could take Elita shopping for designer dresses in Paris, while her father was mostly away concluding deals and recovering the family fortune.At 18 Elita married the debonair, Greek-born but British-educated Tony Georgiadis. The scion of another millionaire family, this son of the formidable Lady Clio was the future owner of Stud House, a stately mansion with six acres of land just outside London. Here Elita and Tony lived the high life, entertaining international businessmen, politicians and celebrities. Yet Elita felt a deep yearning…This book traces her search for meaning and love, her meeting with the then South African president, and the difficult path they had to walk – in the international limelight – to be together. Filled with drama and pathos, it is ultimately a story of hope and happy endings.
Оглавление
M Meiring. Elita and her life with F.W. de Klerk
Acknowledgements
Prologue
One: A wisdom beyond her years
Two: A daughter of Kolonaki
Three: A good catch
Four: A child apart
Five: Very pretty, but oh, so conservative
Six: A first love
Seven: A man of mystery
Eight: A quiet paradise
Nine: There must always be a touch of Greece
Ten: The London years
Eleven: A crown prince
Twelve: A political fly half
Thirteen: The quantum leap
Fourteen: The “baby” cuts its first teeth
Fifteen: Presidents do fall in love
Sixteen: The miracle
Seventeen: “These feelings cannot be allowed”
Eighteen: A decisive cruise
Nineteen: Wildepaardejacht
Twenty: The longing remains
Twenty-one: Only a champagne bubble
Twenty-two: Is this love nothing more than a dream?
Twenty-three: “Don’t live a lie”
Twenty-four: The bombshell drops
Twenty-five: An agent for change
Twenty-six: “I have forgiven him”
Twenty-seven: Two wild horses
Twenty-eight: Another beginning
Postscript
Bibliography
Отрывок из книги
Elita and her life with FW de Klerk
Martie Retief Meiring
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Shortly afterwards, the two couples met once again, in London, and very soon became firm friends. Tony was keenly aware that FW was travelling around the world in order to broaden his contacts and, mindful of his business interests in South Africa, he invited the De Klerks to various functions. FW and Marike were also assured of a warm welcome in the Georgiadis house in London.
What was initially regarded simply as a contact, gradually developed into a friendship. Although FW was firmly resolved to have no involvement in Georgiadis business ventures, the two men enjoyed long discussions over a wide range of topics. As an industrialist and international investor, Tony could test his views against FW’s legal and political insights. They also shared a weakness for tobacco and would smoke and talk far into the night.
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