I started the book but my brilliant daughter will have to give me a thumb nail sketch when she has time.

An incredible expose of colonial practices that gives background to the current situation in Democratic Republic of Congo, it is also compelling read. ( )

An amazing, well-researched, informative book. My brother went to the Congo a few years ago to develop more micro-finance in the area, and some of the stories he told while there make so much more sense now--i.e. the strained relationship between blacks and whites, the current corruption in their government, the guerilla warfare, etc. There's a history of incredible, terrible repression, slavery, slaughter, and abuse that clearly made this country what it is today. Turns the stomach and makes one want to weep at the cruelty of mankind. The story of the people who fought to end this era of human rights abuses might have inspired me to join Amnesty International sometime soon. ( )

This kind of history that is shocking and unforgettable. One of my favorite books of the year. ( )

At the end of the nineteenth century African colonialism was at its height, and no more was this evident than in King Leopold of Belgium’s personal scramble for the area known as the Congo. Adam Hochschild follows the development of the Congo under Leopold and its brutal, ruthless regime against the natives. But in his story of cruelty is also the story of those who opposed and rallied against Leopold.

I was assigned to read this book as a study in colonialism during a first year university history course. I read only about half of it and then stopped; not because of lack of interest, but because exams and other distractions had started to dominate my time more. Two years later I’ve returned to this book and now I feel embarrassed that I ever let it go. It is gripping, meticulously researched, and written more like a novel than an academic text, which makes it easy reading in style at least.

The subject? Not so much. It’s hard to read about such rampant genocide and not feel personally disgusted or moved, which was the case for me. History of African colonization is not a topic that I’m well acquainted with. I don’t think a lot of westerners are acquainted with it. It’s not taught much in schools in any case, and I knew nothing about the Congo prior to this book. Now I feel like I’ve made the first step in knowledge, although I’m sure there’s still a long way to go.

The synopsis of this book calls the opposition to Leopold’s Congo the first human rights movement of the twentieth century. I think this is a vital book for anyone who is interested in the history of human rights campaigns, or anyone in general who wants to know more about the world’s darker, bleaker histories. ( )