In 1921, freedom fighter william pickens described the mississippi river valley as the american congo. Cornell university press, 1974 remains one of the best indepth scholarly analyses of the crisis. Sometimes called the best belgian book of the last quarter century, war and turpentine has all the ingredients a contemporary epic one could ever ask for. For long the congo appeared to be a peaceful island untouched by african anticolonialism. This is a story about the protagonist marlows journey to self discovery, and his experiences in congo. Social, political, and economic aspects of the belgian system of government in central africa henry wellington wack g. Based on his grandfathers actual memories, veteran author stefan hertmans always considered somewhat of an intellectual has tapped into his familys past to create a story. Van reybrouck, a belgian historian, spent years working on this overview of the congolese people. His previous books include warriors of the rising sun. Born in the democratic republic of congo in 1981, this young author is a great promise for the future. Books on the congo history of zaire and the belgian congo. Around the 50th anniversary of the congos independence from belgium in 2010, numerous belgian writers published. Both books provoked significant turmoil, and the belgian parliament. The epic history of a people reprint by david van reybrouck isbn.
A hundred years ago, enlightened people in the western world were outraged by a holocaust in africa which left millions dead. Like many belgians of his generation, david van reybrouck knew congo from stories of the old days. The us author adam hochschild accused leopold ii of genocide in king leopolds ghost 1998. What are belgians taught in school about king leopold ii. A courageous soldier, a gruesome war, a love long lost. Stanard examines the nature of belgian imperialism in the congo and considers its case in light of literature on the french, the british, and other european overseas empires. It was established by the belgian parliament to replace the previous, privately owned congo free state, after international outrage over abuses there. Leopold, in the meantime, tried to ensure that his crimes would never make it into the history books. The crime of the congo is a 1909 book about human rights abuses in the congo free state, a private state established and controlled by the king of the belgians, leopold ii. The negative legacy of belgium colonialism in africa. Congo is a 1980 science fiction novel by michael crichton. Patrice lumumba, in full patrice hemery lumumba, born july 2, 1925, onalua, belgian congo now democratic republic of the congo died january 17, 1961, katanga province, african nationalist leader, the first prime minister of the democratic republic of the congo. Translated from the french, it was a big hit in france and it won a couple of literary prizes when published in 1999.
Most of us might first think of those who put their lives on the line in defense of an ideal. Australia brazil canada china france germany india italy japan mexico netherlands. What are the best books about the belgian congo and king. Author hochschild recounts lost history of horror in the belgian. Chapter 5 of william minters king solomons mines revisited. I went to school in the 1950s, when the congo was still belgian and all we learned was that, we went there to free the africans from the arab slavery and to build schools, hospitals and churches. Tamar draws upon her reallife experiences growing up in the belgian congo as the daughter of christian missionaries. Belgium wanted to grant independence over a thirtyyear span, but under pressure from the united nations, and in order to avoid a long, deadly war, belgium decided to grant independence to the democratic republic of the congo drc on june 30, 1960. Belgian congo series in order tamar myers fictiondb. As if eastern congo had not already suffered enough, seven years ago nature dealt it a stunning blow. Belgium and the congo, 18851980 examines the effects of colonialism on the domestic politics, diplomacy and economics of belgium, from 1880 when king leopold ii began the countrys expansionist enterprises in africa to the 1980s, well after the congo s independence in june of 1960. The belgian congo under belgian rule the worst excesses such as forced labor of the free state were gradually diminished, but the congo was still regarded almost exclusively as a field for european investment, and little was done to give africans a significant role in its government or economy. In king leopold of belgium, who decided to buy himself an empire to compensate for his countrys.
This is the eighth post in this series, the mass atrocities in drc democratic republic of congo. The complete series list for belgian congo tamar myers. A peoples history, won the 2004 best book award of the african politics conference group apcg, an organization of american political scientists specializing on africa. P and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Belgian congo historical region, africa britannica. Nan woodruff argues that the african congo under belgium s king leopold ii is an apt metaphor for the delta of the early twentieth century. Even the maps produced in belgium seem designed to convey this impression of an isolated island fortress. Belgium and the congo, 18851980 by guy vanthemsche april 2012. The epic history of a people traces the fate of one of the worlds most critical, failed nationstates, second only to wartorn somalia. Marlow journey in the congo in heart of darkness by conrad essay. Through belgian congo abebooks shop for books, art.
Mike hoare, an irish soldier of fortune who led white mercenary forces in civil wars in congo in the 1960s and a ragtag band of commandos in a. Hochschild has been praised by scholars and critics for his narrative. Since then, drc has experienced corruption, inflation, and several regime changes. Echoing what christine wrote above, the peoples republic of the congo is what is boxed, and the description says that this is for books partially or fully set in either the peoples republic of the congo or the democratic republic of the congo. It is clear that the author is not your typical historian dryly publishing his findings, but a. King leopold of belgium ruled the vast and resourcerich congo from. Epic in scope yet eminently readable, penetrating and deeply moving, david van reybroucks congo. News from belgium and the belgian congo volume 4 no. Selling the congois a study of european proempire propaganda in belgium, with particular emphasis on the period 190860. Crichton calls congo a lost world novel in the tradition founded by henry rider haggard s king solomons mines.
Congo david van reybrouck hardcover harpercollins publishers. In hochschilds view, this is on a par with japans failure to include its world war ii. Belgium and the congo, 18851980 by guy vanthemsche. The setting of the book is in belgian congo, which was the most infamous european colony in africa. Brandel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. But at that time, there was a war between tanzania and uganda, and the eastern congo were much too dangerous to visit.
Marlow journey in the congo in heart of darkness by conrad. Former french equatorial africa, the former belgian congo, ruandaurundi, uganda, tanganyika by r. However, he only came to understand how the history of that country really worked as he carried out his research for this monumental book about the former colony in the heart of africa. The congo and belgiums external position chapter 3. Selling the congo is a study of european proempire propaganda in belgium, with particular emphasis on the period 190860. Synopsis this book is the winner of the 1999 duff cooper prize. The book reconstructs the period from 1884 to 1907 when king leopold ii of.
Its a short novel pages that can be read at a sitting. Two african journals is a slim volume, part travel book, part novelists journal, written by english author graham greene and first published in 1961. My journey into the worst place on earth to be a woman, by lisa shannon the book chronicles shannons journey to the congo to meet the women her run sponsored, and shares their incredible stories. Here is a book that helps us face the stark truths of the congo s past and appreciate both the enormous potential and uncertainty of its future. Tim butchers top 10 books about congo books the guardian. King leopolds ownership of the congoprivate property until belgium. The belgian congo mysteries series takes the reader in the 1950s deep in fascinating congo. The belgian author is best known for creating the detective maigret, but he turned his pen to satire with devastating effect in these short stories. The efforts of these men and others helped bring international pressure to bear on leopold, and in 1908 he turned over the congo in effect, sold it to the belgian government.
Patrice lumumba, just released from prison, showing his injured wrists what does it mean to have courage. Order of amanda brown books the belgian congo mysteries is a series of historical mystery novels by belgian congo born novelist tamar myers. Belgian congo, former colony coextensive with the presentday democratic republic of the congo in africa, ruled by belgium from 1908 until 1960. Brilliant this book must be read and reread neal ascherson. Author hochschild recounts lost history of horror in the belgian congo. To prepare for writing the book, i planned to go to africa to see gorillas on the slopes of the virunga volcano chain in eastern congo. Instead, there was great nostalgia for the belgian congo. What makes the series unique is the fact that the author herself was born and raised in congo and she has the ability to immerse the reader in that amazing land. American foreign policy in the congo, 19601964 ithaca, ny.
The congo continues today to be the subject of intense speculation and concern, and with good reason. The author doesnt neglect the detrimental role played by the west. Neither the belgian monarchy nor the belgian state has ever apologised for the atrocities. Fear and trembling by amelie nothomb something bothers me a lot about this novel. In the period from 1885 to 1908, many welldocumented atrocities were perpetrated in the. A burntout case, set in the belgian congo, and the heart of the matter, set in sierra leone. For an overview of the congo crisis, three books are especially recommended.
The best books on democratic republic of the congo. Through the belgian congo by strickland, diana and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. My father, who was a military pilot, flew often bet. As adam hochschild tells in his fascinating book about the congos terrible encounter with. List of books and articles about belgian congo online. Abako activities administration african april areas association authority bakongo baluba balubakat bangala batetela became belgian congo belgian government belgian policy belgium bolikango brussels round table bruxelles catholic cent central cerea chef chefferies chiefs coaka colonat comite conakat congo belge congolais congolese congolese. The crime of the congo, free pdf, ebook, epub global grey. Good books and films about mass atrocities in the congo.
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