Foreign powers have been meddling in the congo ever since the belgian king leopold ii sent stanley off in. King leopolds ghost is a history book authored by adam hochschild where he explores how king leopold ii of belgium exploited congo free state in 18851908. Leopold ii, king of the belgians, privately controlled and owned the congo free state from 1885 to 1908. Most of us might first think of those who put their lives on the line in defense of an ideal. Williams was from pennsylvania and became the first. In the last years of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, king leopold ii of belgium ruled the congo free state with a tyranny that was peculiarly brutal even by. The debate over leopolds legacy was reopened in 1999 with the publication of king leopolds ghost by american historian adam hochschild. King leopolds soliloquy, by mark twain they only tell what is against me. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on king leopolds ghost by adam hochschild.
Leopold used his personal control to strip the county of vast amounts of wealth, largely in the form of ivory and. Privately, however, leopold aspired to rule over the land surrounding the congo river in africa, using the territory as a source of revenue for his country. An estimated ten million congolese died during that time. Under the reign of terror instituted by king leopold ii of belgium who ran. In the book leopold was portrayed as a mass murderer and compared to hitler. Analysis of the book king leopold s ghost 1466 words 6 pages. The poisonwood bible by barbara kingsolver, heart of darkness by joseph conrad, king leopold s ghost by adam hochschild, congo.
King leopold s african colony in the congo gave him access to 1 million square miles and 20 million people he could use for labor. May 20, 2019 king leopold ii ruled over belgium from 1865 to 1909. I heard adam hochschilds interview on cbc and ordered the book. Writing a century later, adam hochschild revisits conrads congo to tell the tale of belgian king leopold iis colonial savagery and his creation of a personal colony in the heart of africa. Morel, george washington williams, william henry sheppard and others, who worked tirelessly to bring about its end. In the first years of existence of the congo state, when only a tiny part of the territory of the state was occupied, leopold tried to extend his frontiers in all directions.
Richard lea surveys the best books about a troubled region. Sailing into the middle of the story was a young congo river steamboat officer named joseph conrad. Its subject is king leopolds rule over the congo free state. Apr 06, 2015 patrice lumumba, just released from prison, showing his injured wrists what does it mean to have courage. Leopold s ghost king leopold s ghost is a novel which reflects on the historical colonization of the congo region and the subjugation of its people. The batman star, 47, is set to direct and produce king leopolds ghost, a factual drama about belgiums king leopold ii. Find books like king leopold s ghost from the worlds largest community of readers. George washington williams wrote a famous letter to king leopold ii to ask him to stop the atrocities being committed to africans in the congo. A story of greed, terror, and heroism in colonial africa kindle edition by hochschild, adam. Christian science monitor as hochschilds brilliant book demonstrates, the great congo scandal. A story of greed, terror, and heroism in colonial africa ebook written by adam hochschild. Leopold wanted henry morton stanley, one of the most famous explorers of the era, to work for him in the congo.
With an introduction by awardwinning novelist barbara kingsolver in the late nineteenth century, when the great powers in europe were tearing africa apart and seizing ownership of land for themselves, king leopold of belgium took hold of the vast and mostly unexplored territory surrounding the congo river. Hochschild has been praised by scholars and critics for his narrative. A story of greed, terror and heroism in colonial africa 1998 is a bestselling popular history book by adam hochschild that explores the exploitation of the congo free state by king leopold ii of belgium between 1885 and 1908. A work of political satire harshly condemnatory of his actions, it ostensibly recounts a fiction monologue of leopold ii speaking in his own defense. Around the 50th anniversary of the congos independence from belgium in 2010, numerous belgian writers published content about the congo. Also in 2005, the american and british publishers of king leopolds ghost reissued the book with a new afterword by hochschild in which he talks about the reactions to the book, the death toll, and events in the congo since its publication. Dec 11, 2014 king leopold ii and the congo free state introduction often times people know belgium for its chocolate, french fries, and beer but what about the mass murder of somewhere in between 2 and 15 mi. King leopolds ghost summary from litcharts the creators of.
Its a highly readable account of king leopolds brutal reign in the congo and the human rights advocates, roger casement, e. King leopold ii ruled over belgium from 1865 to 1909. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read king leopold s ghost. In the late 1870s, stanley sailed across the congo river, becoming the first. Christian science monitor as hochschilds brilliant book demonstrates, the great congo. Although europe and the rest of the world seemed to have forgotten the victims of these. Today, the memory of his reign still lives on, and he is glorified with golden statues of his likeness in every major city in belgium. A fascinating account of the creation of the belgian congo by that strange, greedy cruel monarch leopold, king of the. The king leopolds ghost community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Belgium begins to face brutal colonial legacy of leopold ii.
King leopold and the conquest of the congo the story of the scramble for territory in africa is full of powerful european countries making game changing moves to outplay and outlast their rivals. Nov 04, 2015 the true story of how one mans greed led to one of the most horrific examples of european colonialism. Although much of the material in king leopolds ghost is secondhand the author has drawn heavily from jules marchals scholarly fourvolume history of turnofthecentury congo. This public outcry caused leopold to give the congo to the belgian parliament, who annexed it in 1908 as the belgian congo. And looming above them all, the duplicitous billionaire king leopold ii. Though much of the book is devoted to hochschilds historical account of leopolds life and the lives of the men who helped him create and administer the congoas well as the lives of the men who helped to wrest the congo from leopolds controlthe title phrase, king leopold s ghost, is apt, as it is the legacy of european imperialism and colonialism that most concerns hochschild. Christian science monitor as hochschilds brilliant book demonstrates, the great congo scandal prefigured our own. The author does a truly great job summarizing, explaining and describing the crimes committed by king leopold ii and his supporters, both european and african, during his reign over the belgian congo from the late 1800s and the early 1900s. Amazingly this book manages to complete a detailed examination and chronology of the congo under monarch leopold ii, simultaneously king of the belgians, without mentioning that his vicious rule resulted in the extermination of approximately 10 million africans in leopold s desperate thirst for fortune through the gathering and export of rubber sap from about 1890. King leopold of belgiums exploits up the congo river in the 1880s were central to the european partitioning of the african continent.
Patrice lumumba, just released from prison, showing his injured wrists what does it mean to have courage. Goodreads members who liked king leopold s ghost also liked. The main reason why hochschild wrote the book was to make people aware of the european powers crimes in congo. The old wounds have been reopened by the publication of a book called king leopolds ghost, by the american author adam hochschild, which has. By the 1890s, king leopold personally controlled all the land in the congo, thanks to stanley s intimidation policies in the previous decade. Published september 3rd 1999 by mariner books first published september 21st. Hochschild was born in new york in 1942 and graduated from harvard in 1963 with a b. Amazingly this book manages to complete a detailed examination and chronology of the congo under monarch leopold ii, simultaneously king of the belgians, without mentioning that his vicious rule resulted in the extermination of approximately 10 million africans in leopolds desperate thirst for fortune through the gathering and export of rubber sap from about 18901910.
King leopold ii and the congo free state introduction often times people know belgium for its chocolate, french fries, and beer but what about the mass murder of somewhere in between 2 and 15 million congolese natives. Under the auspices of the international african association of the congo, leopold received donations from european elites and promised to dedicate his personal wealth to uplift the regions inhabitants. An unremarkable monarch of an insignificant little kingdom, however, outwitted them all. Adam hochschilds king leopolds ghost offers a substantial overview of the period from 1895 until 1908 when king leopold ii of belgium ruled the congoor at least the very large territory around the congo river basin that he claimed as his own. A defense of his congo rule 1905 kindle edition by twain, mark. A new book has ignited a furious row in a country coming to grips with its. Why king leopold ii should be remembered alongside hitler. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. King leopold ii of belgium takes the congo history channel. In 2006, journeyman pictures and documentary film director pippa scott released a documentary version of the book under the same title. Was belgiums king leopold ii a mass murderer on a par with hitler or a.
Aug 18, 2006 king leopold would be enough for one documentary, as would patrice lumumba and mobutu sese seko, both of whom are too quickly crammed into the films overloaded, visually chaotic two hours. This empire was known as the congo free state and leopold ii stood as its undisputed slave master. King leopolds ghost made me embarrassed to be human. A story of greed, terror, and heroism in colonial africa. Ben affleck to direct congo movie, king leopolds ghost. With this book, hochschild, like other historians before him, ensures that king leopold has not gotten away with his efforts to erase the memory of his brutal acts. Built to celebrate king leopold iis acquisition of the congo a century ago.
King leopold s ghost was a finalist for the national book critics circle award, as was his recent to end all wars. Nov 21, 2019 ben affleck is leaving gotham city and heading to the congo. However, the avarice and deceit of king leopold ii of belgium in the congo. Sep 21, 1998 king leopolds ghost is the book that reexposed the atrocities leopold committed against the congo between 1880 and 1910 atrocities that sank out of sight after they were finally stopped. The new york times king leopolds ghost is a remarkable achievement, hugely satisfying on many levels. Hochschild suggests that mobutu may have been inspired by leopold in some waysperhaps he modeled his cruel tyrannical regime off of leopold. King leopolds ghost is a nonfiction book about imperialism in africa written by adam hochschild. Sep 16, 2016 but there was a time, at the peak of european imperialism in africa, when belgiums king leopold ii ran a personal empire so vast and cruel, it rivaled and even exceeded the crimes of even the worst 20th century dictators. I will give them my congo, the king is reported saying, but they have no right to know what i did there.
Hochschild the unquiet ghost documents the machinations of leopold, who won over president chester a. With great power and compassion, king leopolds ghost will brand the tragedy of the congotoo long forgottenonto the conscience of the west. The book was controversial in belgium but widely praised by american scholars and critics. Leopold ii, king of the belgians from 1865 to 1909. As a result, leopold acted as a kind of venture capitalist, leasing out his property to private companies. Typically historical accounts are causal and the dominant causes are large forces economic trends, necessities of empires and so on. They tell how england required of me a commission of inquiry into congo atrocities, and how, to quiet that meddling country, with its disagreeable congo reform association, made up of earls and bishops and john. King leopold ii of belgium was at the head of this socalled scandal. King leopold ii of belgium propagated the least talked about mass murder in history. A story of greed, terror and heroism in colonial africa 1998 is a bestselling popular history book by adam hochschild that explores the exploitation of the congo free state by king leopold ii of belgium between 1885 and 1908, as well as the largescale atrocities committed during that period. The book also addresses the years leading up to leopolds acquisition of the congo and those. A story of greed, terror, and heroism in colonial africa adam hochschild, 1998 houghton mifflin harcourt 400 pp. Pdf king leopold s ghost download full pdf book download.
King leopold ii and the congo free state 655 words. The book gives a unique view on the characters involved, such as henry morton stanley, who has frequently been praised by western society. King leopold s ghost by adam hochschild is truly one of the best nonfiction history books i have ever read. By 1905, the international public had turned against leopold and his actions in the congo, despite his continual efforts to curb peoples opinions. Adam hochschild is the bestselling author of seven books. Built to celebrate king leopold iis acquisition of the congo a century ago, the greenhouses stretch for more than half a mile and are among the most visible and grandiose remaining symbols of a. By then pressure had mounted against belgium and in 1908 the belgian parliament persuaded leopold to cede the congo free state to belgium. What are the best books about the belgian congo and king. The book became a bestseller in belgium, but aroused criticism from former belgian colonialists and some academics as exaggerating the extent of the atrocities and population decline. King leopolds ghost summary from litcharts the creators. King leopolds congo and the scramble for africa by michael a. The brutality of the belgian regime in the congo inspired one of the most famous books ever written.
Although he played a significant role in the development of the modern belgian state, he was also responsible for widespread atrocities committed under his rule against his colonial subjects. As adam hochschilds disturbing new book on the belgian congo. Hochschild ties the death of patrice lumumba in the twentieth century to a history of often violent western intervention abroad that stretches back centuries. He was the unintimidating king of belgium, cousin of queen victoria of englanda wealthy, noble and philanthropic modern king. But there was a time, at the peak of european imperialism in africa, when belgiums king leopold ii ran a personal empire so vast and cruel, it rivaled and even exceeded the crimes of even the worst 20th century dictators. King leopolds ghost is the book that reexposed the atrocities leopold committed against the congo between 1880 and 1910 atrocities that sank out of sight after they were finally stopped. Belgium begins to face brutal colonial legacy of leopold. Dec 28, 2019 king leopold of belgium ruled the vast and resourcerich congo from 1885 to 1908, not as a colony of belgium but as a vast philanthropic project. Nov 23, 2019 in the last years of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, king leopold ii of belgium ruled the congo free state with a tyranny that was peculiarly brutal even by the cruel and deeply racist. In 1908, the area was annexed by belgium as a colony known as the belgian congo. Although much of the material in king leopolds ghost is secondhand the author has drawn heavily from jules marchals scholarly fourvolume history of turnofthecentury congo and from the. The congo free state, leopolds private colony, was a unique political construct that opened the door to the savage exploitation of the congos natural and human resources by international corporations. Though he is credited as a builder king of the congo who commissioned many buildings and urban projects, leopold remains a controversial figure in presentday democratic republic of congo.
King leopold s ghost by adam hochschild 1999 hochschild struggles against the great forgetting of belgiums exploitation of the congo with this corrective history of leopold iis bloody empire. The congo independent state, under the personal government of king leopold, lasted from 1885 to 1908. King leopold ii and the congo free state 655 words bartleby. He led the first european efforts to develop the congo river basin. In 1865 the most brutal ruler belgium has ever seen came to power. I picked up this book because i have always wanted to know what really went on in the congo with patrice lumumba back in the 50s, and why he was assassinatd in 1960. Comments by bob corbett march 2004 from the outset this is an unusual history. For decades, most europeans mistakenly believed that king leopold spent his considerable fortune funding public works in the congo and stopping slavery in east africa. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading king leopold s soliloquy. King leopolds ghost was a finalist for the national book critics circle award, as was to end all wars. King leopolds soliloquy is a 1905 pamphlet by mark twain.
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