Sep 16, 2016 under the reign of leopold ii, the congos unique wildlife was fair game for sport killing by almost any hunter who could book passage and pay for a hunting license. King leopold s ghost is a history book authored by adam hochschild where he explores how king leopold ii of belgium exploited congo free state in 18851908. This brutal practice was a catastrophe for the population of the congo, and leopold was eventually forced to give up his hold on the colony. In the book leopold was portrayed as a mass murderer and compared to hitler. King leopold iis exploitation of the congo from 1885 to 1908. 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. Leopolds behavior utterly contradicted his claims of being interested in philanthropy. King leopolds ghost and millions of other books are available for instant.
King leopold ii of belgium and the congo free state by. His part in royalty, lead him into the belgium army at an early age. Leopold and his regime was met with opposition from many individuals and great political powers by the end of his rule in the african colony. King leopold ii of belgium takes the congo history channel. Leopold, as well as many of his administrators in the congo, saw the people of africa as chattel, to be enslaved and put to work for his own benefit. In the king incorporated, neal ascherson recounts king leopolds exploitation of the congolese he enslaved, tortured, terrorized, and eventually. Leopold ii implemented a forcedlabour system in the congo that was quickly copied by other european colonial powers. King leopold and his cronies, when they finally admitted that savage violence took place, they claimed it.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the congo from leopold to kabila. The theme of racism and human rights in king leopolds. Resource library this day in geographic history feb 5, 1885 ce. The congo free state, leopold s private colony, was a unique political construct that opened the door to the savage exploitation of the congo s natural and human resources by international corporations. What are the best books about the belgian congo and king. A work of political satire harshly condemnatory of his actions, it ostensibly recounts a fiction monologue of leopold ii speaking in his own defense. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Joseph conrads 1902 book, heart of darkness, was a. 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. In the period from 1885 to 1908, many welldocumented atrocities were perpetrated in the congo free state today the democratic republic of the congo which, at the time, was a colony under the personal rule of king leopold ii of the belgians.
Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. 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. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in king leopolds ghost, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. With great power and compassion, king leopold s ghost will brand the tragedy of the congo too long forgotten. Leopold ii, king of the belgians, privately controlled and owned the congo free state from 1885 to 1908. Apr 06, 2015 patrice lumumba, just released from prison, showing his injured wrists what does it mean to have courage. Outside the congo had this mentalities as well, but they were not put into reality as well as leopold was able to do. 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.
Congo is a 1980 science fiction novel by michael crichton. King leopolds ghost quotes showing of 144 most striking about the traditional societies of the congo was their remarkable artwork. King leopolds ghost was a finalist for the national book critics circle award, as was to end all wars. As a result, leopold acted as a kind of venture capitalist, leasing out his property to private companies. King leopold s ghost was a finalist for the national book critics circle award, as was his recent to end all wars. King leopold s soliloquy is a 1905 pamphlet by mark twain. To enforce his authority, leopold relied upon a violent military squad, known as the force publique. In history classes, each generation is taught that he was a humanitarian who brought christianity and the wonders of civilization to the congo free state. But unlike a venture capitalist, leopold had his own private army, which he used to protect his territory and consolidate his control over the.
I had heard about this book from friends and knew i should read it, but dreaded hearing the gory details of king leopold s horrendous subjugation of the congo. As adam hochschild tells in his fascinating book about the congos terrible. A new book has ignited a furious row in a country coming to grips with its colonial legacy. He declared the people and the land to be his property, and he quickly turned the country into a moneymaking venture for himself and his throne. The debate over leopold s legacy was reopened in 1999 with the publication of king leopold s ghost by american historian adam hochschild. The people of the congo, as this book shows, have suffered cruelly throughout the past century from a particularly brutal experience of colonial ru. King leopold ii and the congolese genocide african heritage. The death toll in king leopold s congo was on a scale comparable to the holocaust and stalins purges. France french gain give given government hands hundred illustrations importance independent industry interest international king leopold king s labour land less liberal lives means ment mission missionaries natives nature necessary. Leopold used his personal control to strip the county of vast amounts of wealth, largely in the form of ivory and. King leopold s ghost gives an account of a cruel, heartless and cunning king who raided congo and took away the lives of.
The congo independent state, under the personal government of king leopold, lasted from 1885 to 1908. The effects of king leopold on the population of the congo. Butcher of the congo is a biography written by tod olson, talking about king leopold ii and his conquests during imperialism in africa. The book was controversial in belgium but widely praised by american scholars and critics. I will give them my congo, the king is reported saying, but they have no right to know what i did there. Between 1885 and 1908, the belgian king leopold ii personally ruled the congo free state, which was also known as the independent state of the congo. King leopold s ghost is an exemplary piece of historywriting. King leopold and the belgian congo it is widely debated why exactly king leopold decided to conquer the congo, but the general consensus seems to be that it was out of the belief that the highlands of the congo may be as rich in gold as the mountains of the western slope of the american continent stead. He led the first european efforts to develop the congo river basin. King leopold ii 18351909 of belgium created the congo free state in 1885 as part of a professed desire to bring civilization and modernity to africans. Of all the western imperialists and their colonial governments, none was as terrifying as king leopold ii of belgium, and none was as brutal as his african colony, the socalled congo free state. 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. A peoples history kindle edition by nzongolantalaja, georges. In what way has this book affected your view of human nature.
He patiently reminds us that congo will always be a case apart because of its. Today, we will talk about leopold ii, the belgian king, who killed millions of congolese. King leopold s ghost was a finalist for the national book critics circle award, as was to end all wars. A story of greed, terror and heroism in colonial africa. Bell brings fiction into the service of truth while still telling a. King leopold ii, his rule in belgium and the congo. By the 1890s, king leopold personally controlled all the land in the congo, thanks to stanley s intimidation policies in the previous decade. Belgian king establishes congo free state on february 5, 1885, belgian king leopold ii established the congo free state as his personal possession. Adam hochschild is the bestselling author of seven books. 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. Sailing into the middle of the story was a young congo river steamboat officer named joseph conrad.
Deep in the african rain forest, near the legendary ruins of the lost city. King leopold ii and the congo the european colonization of africa was one of the greatest and swiftest conquests in human history. King leopold s 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. It uses his expedition across the congo to tell the region. F oreign powers have been meddling in the congo ever since the belgian king leopold ii sent stanley off in pursuit of the regions enormous mineral wealth.
Take our free king leopold s ghost quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Mentalities within the congo were supported by economic greed, imperial power, and racism. Mariner books, 1998 in king leopold s ghost, author adam hochschild describes the horrific atrocities committed by king leopold ii of belgium in the congo free state during what is known as the scramble for africa. The task that is given to fulfill is very delicate and requires much tact. The tragic history of congo the most blighted nation on earth goes to the polls this weekend more in hope than expectation that stability and peace might. Leopold also pulled some tricky moves to get the french government to recognize him by playing on their fears of possible british claims in africa. How is this true of other individuals about whom hochschild writes. Of all the western imperialists and their harsh colonial governments, none was as terrifying as king leopold ii of belgium. He was the unintimidating king of belgium, cousin of queen victoria of englanda wealthy, noble and philanthropic modern king. A story of greed, terror, and heroism in colonial africa. These atrocities were particularly associated with the labour policies used to collect natural rubber for export. From here on, he continued to grow in military aspects and. 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. In the process of colonization several africans especially the leadership who resisted, were murdered in cold blood.
Today, leopold s rubber terror has all been swept under the carpet. King leopold ii ruled over belgium from 1865 to 1909. King leopold and the belgian congo essay 610 words bartleby. In 1870 roughly 80 percent of africa south of the sahara desert was governed by indigenous kings, chiefs, and other rulers.
Leopold ii, king of the belgians from 1865 to 1909. Very few know about this, but leopold ii should be known as a hitler, or even worse than hitler, but then again, that is if people consider congolese black people as people. On their journey they discover the lost city of zinj and a new species of killer gorillas, which they must overcome to survive. On one extreme, the congo controversy involved powerful, wealthy people, such as king leopold ii, who believed that africans were no better than animals. Return to the books home page home site index site search. Europeans were driven since the fifteenth century to explore, trade, conquer, and colonize the exotic lands they considered empty and up for grabs by westerners. In 1908, the area was annexed by belgium as a colony known as the belgian congo. 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.
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. King leopold of belgiums exploits up the congo river in the 1880s were central to the european partitioning of the african continent. Leopold the second and the congo new ed by neal ascherson isbn.
Can leopold ii be viewed as a precursor to the masterminds behind the nazi death camps and the gulag. This empire was known as the congo free state and leopold ii stood as its undisputed slave master. Foreign powers have been meddling in the congo ever since the belgian king leopold ii sent stanley off in pursuit of the regions enormous. An estimated ten million congolese died during that time. Tim butchers top 10 books about congo books the guardian. Leopold made most of his fortune by leasing out his properties to other companies, and then collecting his share of the profits.
The novel centers on an expedition searching for diamonds and investigating the mysterious deaths of a previous expedition in the dense tropical rainforest of the congo. 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. Arthur conan doyle, author of sherlock holmes, in 1909 penned the crime of the congo to expose leopolds brutality as a crime against humanity. You will go certainly to evangelize, but your evangelization must inspire above all belgium interests.
As hochschilds brilliant book demonstrates, the great congo scandal. Thus, he opened up the congo to rubber and ivory companies, and made a large fortune in doing so. The rise and fall of the belgian congo is, on his account, dominantly a history driven by exceptional and notable individuals. Plot summary 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.
In 1865 the most brutal ruler belgium has ever seen came to power. But what distinguishes the book is its clearheadedness. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. And leopold fully deserves the opprobrium of such and epitaph.
Letter from king leopold ii of belgium to colonial missionaries, 18831 reverends, fathers and dear compatriots. Its subject is king leopold s rule over the congo free state. The king leopold s ghost community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. King leopolds ghost, adam hochschild 9780618001903. A colorful, provocative study of king leopold ii of belgiums genocidal plunder of the. Leopold ii 9 april 1835 17 december 1909 was king of the belgians from 1865 to 1909. Hochschild begins the story of king leopold s greed for the congo by sketching the earliest colonial history of africa. With great power and compassion, king leopold s ghost will brand the tragedy of the congo too long forgottenonto the conscience of the west. And looming above them all, the duplicitous billionaire king leopold ii. Belgian king establishes congo free state national. Also in 2005, the american and british publishers of king leopold s 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.
But hochschild breaks it to you gently, and crafts the story so skillfully that i never felt overwhelmed. They range from the arch enemy king of the beasts leopold ii of belgium, to the saintly roger casement and the driving crusader edmund morel. Millions of other africans who risked their lives to demonstrate were killed and maimed. Batman star ben affleck is set to direct king leopold s ghost, a factual imperialism drama about belgiums king leopold iis exploitation and pillaging of the congo. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read king leopold s ghost. In the 1880s, as the european powers were carving up africa, king leopold ii of. King leopold ii of belgium and the congo free state king leopold ii was the king of belgium. Cutting off hands as we see in sierra leone today, was very much part of leopold s repertoire. Luckily, james bell has just published his 4th novel, crisis in the congo. King leopolds ghost april 2006 edition open library. No one understood the exact borders of the congo territory, thanks to leopolds sleight. Built to celebrate king leopold iis acquisition of the congo a century ago.
Largest genocide before world war 2 king leopolds ghost. Most of us might first think of those who put their lives on the line in defense of an ideal. A story of greed, terror, and heroism in colonial africa ebook written by adam hochschild. The butcher of congo by baffour ankomah, new african, october 1999. Ben affleck to direct congo movie, king leopolds ghost. He was born on april 9th 1835 in brussels, belgium. May 04, 2014 van reybroucks bibliography alone is worth the cover price.
Pdf king leopold s ghost download full pdf book download. King leopold ii of belgium laid claim to the congo and declared it his territory while exerting physical threats to the indigenous people of the congo kongo. 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. The old wounds have been reopened by the publication of a book called king leopolds ghost, by the american author adam hochschild, which has brought howls of rage from belgiums ageing colonials. A fight against depredations in the congo, adam hochschild argues, was the centurys first human rights campaign. How king leopold ii of belgium killed 10 million africans. The main reason why hochschild wrote the book was to make people aware of the european powers crimes in congo. The results proved devastating to the region in many ways. Only 90 years ago, the agents of king leopold ii of belgium massacred 10 million africans in the congo. Leopold the second and the congo neal ascherson on.
King leopold s ghost cainmarissa adam hochschild, king leopold s ghost new york. By then pressure had mounted against belgium and in 1908 the belgian parliament persuaded leopold to cede the congo free state to belgium. Why king leopold ii should be remembered alongside hitler. Leopold ii was known for being king of belgium, but more importantly, he was best known as the butcher of the congo. They gladly agreed to his demand, thinking they might be able to buy out leopolds congo in the future. From 1884 to 1916, the scramble of africa occurred. As adam hochschild tells in his fascinating book about the congos terrible encounter with europe the creation of zaire under the dictator mobutu, the breakup of that country and its renaming congo, and the civil war that rages there nowall of these can be traced back to leopolds bloody enterprise. King leopolds congo in the cambridge history of africa. Sir robert casement wrote a report in 1903 about the atrocities in congo, helped to sway the british parliament to use its influence against the congo free state and king leopold.