King Leopold's Soliloquy (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: International Publishers (March 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0717806871
• ISBN-13: 978-0717806874
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #508,997 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Is it what's really that bad that makes this book so good?, April 27, 2000

By	Phalin Landry (Louisiana,United States) - See all my reviews

In beginning Twain's "King Leopold's Soliloquy", one immediately notices how wordy Twain is. Yet, the context plays a major role in portraying the oddity of how the king actually thought his cruelty was well deserved. This book is pure genius when it comes to irony and sarcasim. One of Twain's most horrid yet thought provoking novels.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Rave The King, August 3, 2007

By	Kevin Black (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This is Mark Twain at his political satirical most incisiveness. It was well documented that at this point in his life, Twain spoke out bravely against many of the world's atrocities and this "soliloquy" is so wry that at times it feels nearly sympathetic, a literary device that brings the reader into a greater sense of anger and disgust at the callousness of deeds and thought from the King of Belgium. Historically, it is a must read for anyone studying world history and the story of King Leopold and his influence at the Berlin conference of 1884-85 is a fascinating side note to the events and political infighting that eventually would lead to the first World War. For Twain buffs, its a departure in tone that makes it even the more fascinating.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REMARKABLE AND WELL DOCUMENTED, November 17, 2003

By	C. Alexander "Ray-sheezay" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

mark twain's accounts of king leopold's rule in the congo and the colonization of it by the belguims speak of a known but least talked about african holocaust in the congo. over ten million people murdered. congolese people enslaved, mutilated, whipped, tortured, and ect. all under the orders of leopold and belguim. it shows how imperialism in the congo raped the region of its vast resources such as gold, diamonds, cobalt, maganese, rubber and fruit products. this book should definately be read by all, eventhough it a small book, its very powerful and needed. i highly recommend it.