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Adam Hochschild

King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa Paperback – October 1, 1999

by Adam Hochschild (Author)

2,317 ratings

in Belgian History

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King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa
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In the 1880s, as the European powers were carving up Africa, King Leopold II of Belgium seized for himself the vast and mostly unexplored territory surrounding the Congo River. Carrying out a genocidal plundering of the Congo, he looted its rubber, brutalized its people, and ultimately slashed its population by ten million—all the while shrewdly cultivating his reputation as a great humanitarian. Heroic efforts to expose these crimes eventually led to the first great human rights movement of the twentieth century, in which everyone from Mark Twain to the Archbishop of Canterbury participated. King Leopold's Ghost is the haunting account of a megalomaniac of monstrous proportions, a man as cunning, charming, and cruel as any of the great Shakespearean villains. It is also the deeply moving portrait of those who fought Leopold: a brave handful of missionaries, travelers, and young idealists who went to Africa for work or adventure and unexpectedly found themselves witnesses to a holocaust. Adam Hochschild brings this largely untold story alive with the wit and skill of a Barbara Tuchman. Like her, he knows that history often provides a far richer cast of characters than any novelist could invent. Chief among them is Edmund Morel, a young British shipping agent who went on to lead the international crusade against Leopold. Another hero of this tale, the Irish patriot Roger Casement, ended his life on a London gallows. Two courageous black Americans, George Washington Williams and William Sheppard, risked much to bring evidence of the Congo atrocities to the outside world. Sailing into the middle of the story was a young Congo River steamboat officer named Joseph Conrad. And looming above them all, the duplicitous billionaire King Leopold II. With great power and compassion, King Leopold's Ghost will brand the tragedy of the Congo—too long forgotten—onto the conscience of the West.

Print length

366 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Houghton Mifflin
Publication date

October 1, 1999
Reading age

14 years and up
Dimensions

6.14 x 1 x 8.98 inches
ISBN-10

9780618001903
ISBN-13

978-0618001903
See all details

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“An enthralling story, full of fascinating characters, intense drama, high adventure, deceitful manipulations, courageous truth-telling, and splendid moral fervor . . . A work of history that reads like a novel.”
—Christian Science Monitor

“As Hochschild's brilliant book demonstrates, the great Congo scandal prefigured our own times . . . This book must be read and reread.”
—Neal Ascherson, Los Angeles Times

“A vivid, novelistic narrative that makes the reader acutely aware of the magnitude of the horror perpetrated by King Leopold and his minions.”
—The New York Times

“King Leopold’s Ghost is a remarkable achievement, hugely satisfying on many levels. It overwhelmed me in the way Heart of Darkness did when I first read it—and for precisely the same reasons: as a revelation of the horror that had been hidden in the Congo.”
—Paul Theroux

“Carefully researched and vigorously told, King Leopold’s Ghost does what good history always does—expands the memory of the human race.”
—The Houston Chronicle

About the Author

ADAM HOCHSCHILD is the author of ten books. King Leopold’s Ghost was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, as was To End All Wars. His Bury the Chains was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and PEN USA Literary Award. He lives in Berkeley, California.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0618001905
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Houghton Mifflin (October 1, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 366 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780618001903
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0618001903
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 1 x 8.98 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #13,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Belgian History
- #2 in Central Africa History
- #6 in Slavery & Emancipation History

Customer Reviews:
2,317 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		74%
4 star		17%
3 star		6%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Herman Padilla

I'm sure there are numerous really good reviews so I'll add something that might be a ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2018

Verified Purchase

Well this is an impressive book, I'm sure there are numerous really good reviews so I'll add something that might be a new observation, reading about British (and Irish) Counsel Roger Casement it reminded me that I read about him before and I looked up and found the story in Charles Mann book 1493 uncovering the new world Columbus created. It's always a thrill to find like a intellectual Easter egg especially if it's unexpected. One of the strengths of this book was how it introduced us to so many persons that are little noticed by history but had large impacts on the world, they came together to fight against one of the great crimes of the day King Leopold's rape and murderous rule of the Congo, they were rather successful over time although the guilty as is almost always the case in these types of crimes went largely unpunished accept for how they are view in history. Reverend William Sheppard sounds like an amazing man, so too with E. D. Morel, if it wasn't for this book I would know nothing of their stories. The difficulty of conducting this research when the main principals did everything they could to destroy the cover over there deeds, the remoteness of the area and the time period, makes it a miracle that this book could be written at all. Very glad I read it I've created a new shelf called Excellent History books just for books like this although their can't be many such books that reach this depth and understanding, it will always stand out in that shelf as a must read history book.

81 people found this helpful

Helpful

Staz

Outstanding- Couldn't Put it Down

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2017

Verified Purchase

I bought this book on a whim while on vacation because it was a Kindle Daily Deal, and wound up finishing it in just three days. I have no real background in Africa, Belgium, or colonialism, but Hochschild does a phenomenal job of weaving together a compelling story that brings a forgotten and disgraceful era to life.

The story is just incredible. Chronologically, Hochschild does a great job at tying together a complex story over decades and even centuries, beginning with tale of the European discovery of the Congo river and then honing in on Leopold's obsession with colonial expansion and the Congo specifically. He describes the casual brutality of Leopold's regime extremely effectively before skillfully introducing the figures in the movement that rose up to make the world aware of what was happening in Africa. Along the way, the author does a great job of putting the events into historical context and addressing likely counterarguments made be pro-Leopold sources (e.g. why there was outrage about the Congo specifically despite equally brutal colonial regimes elsewhere in Africa, the pre-existence of continental African slavery, etc). Hochschild does a great job of developing characters and presents a mountain of irrefutable evidence to back up his main arguments, all of which is done in an extremely engaging manner. The author's epilogue, written 10 years after the initial publication, is also even handed and insightful.

If I have any complaint with the book, it's that the author sometimes makes leaps of judgement in the narrative that aren't necessary, especially when it comes to speculating whether certain characters in the story previously l crossed paths or allowed specific people/events to privately influence their decisions. The story is compelling enough without these speculations. He also (rightfully) demonizes Leopold and other figures in the regime, but spends less time characterizing anti-colonial figures whose backgrounds and personal lives are shady at best. While certain players are demonstrably more despicable than others, I felt that Hochschild could have been a little more even handed in describing the faults of his protagonists at times, if for nothing else than to appear more impartial as a narrator and derail his critics.

Overall, the book is outstanding and I would recommend it to anybody looking for a fast paced story, context about the European scramble for Africa, or insight as to how Africa developed through the 20th century.

62 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kevin K kamisendu

This book changed my life

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017

So I don't usually do leave reviews of books but I had to this time. I bought this books about 8 months ago but I read the last few weeks only and I think it was the perfect timing with what is going on in my life right now as I'm making big choices concerning my future right now. If I didn't read this book right I probably would have missed on what might just be my life goal and something I plan on focusing for a good part of my life once I get more ready for it. I know this is not much of a book review as of now but I just wanted to show how much the story of my people have affected me and how I really want to do something about all the suffering that have been going on and keeps on happening now. I myself grew up in Kinshasa, my dad was an army colonel who fought against Mobutu in the 90's and had to flee the country for a few years because of that. This year (2017) I'm about to be 18 and I’m surprised that it's only now that I get to know the story of my people and what that so-called King Léopold II have done. Throughout my read I came to decide that one day I want to be a change in my country’s history too, a positive change, I want to be the African voice to change the Congo and make it one of the great countries. I know I sound a little too excited now and kind of dreaming but I'm still a kid so I guess it's okay right? One day hopefully once I do start making a change someone finds this review and call me out on it.

314 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

L. D. Overton

Why no photos in Kindle version??

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2018

Verified Purchase

I own both the book and kindle version and for some reason there are none of the photographs on the Kindle that are found in the paperback, which is a shame.
I do not know if this is common practice with a Kindle version as i have only just got it!!
Actual content of book is very good though and well worth a read!

20 people found this helpful

Vasily Pugh

Coruscating

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2020

Verified Purchase

The first thing to state - and something that I was unaware of - was that the original book was published thirty years ago. This means that the closing chapter acts as an update of sorts and is almost worth reading first. It brings the story up to date and shows how some things haven't changed.

One of the darkest chapters in human history, 'King Leopold's Ghost recounts the egregious land-grab by King Leopold of Belgium towards the riches of the Congo. Having felt left out by the colonial profits of surrounding countries, Leopold formulated a plan to access one of the most inaccessible parts of Africa. Leopold's brand of colonialism was especially vicious though and some of the crimes are hard to read.
Importantly, I say 'human' instead of 'White', 'Black', 'Colonial' as one thing we learn is that no one race had patent rights on slavery, despite w might be taught today. The book highlights how the indigenous tribes had quite a fruitful line in slavery before explorers arrived; nowhere near as rapacious or structured, but just as nasty. One tribe mentioned used severed heads as a kind of currency - if you ran out of funds, simply lop a slave's head off.

Of course this fact shouldn't distract us to the fact that the main crimes were by Leopold and his forces. What is fascinating - and it almost seems to stick in Hochschild's craw - is that the many voices attacking the terror were from Christian missionaries. Modern revisionism would have that they were eagerly taking part in the activities, but until brave men like Morel and George Washington Williams came along, they were lone, unheard voices.

The epilogue is a reminder that two things do not change. Western involvement (interference) in Africa and, ultimately, the power of greed. One thing is touched on is that continuing to solely blame colonialism for current problems in countries like Congo is ridiculous but fashionable. The truth is, as stated by Solomon in Ecclesiastes (and not about one race or another) 'Man has dominated man to his harm.'

All in all, a sobering book that draws parallels between King Leopold's reign and the Holocaust in its viciousness.

5 people found this helpful

CASSINI24

A well-researched and highly readable account of the largely undocumented genocide in the Congo at the turn of the last century

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

An insightful and well-researched account of one of the forgotten genocides in Africa. The author narrates with great warmth the tenacity of individuals such as ED Morel, who fought so hard to stop the slavery and abuse in the Congo. I had never heard of ED Morel before reading this book. Hochschild also expresses regret that he could not record the efforts of more African people who fought against the awful circumstances they found themselves in, but does draw on the rare remaining scraps of historical evidence so that their voices can be heard as far as is possible. His insights into the less savoury characters involved in the scramble for rubber in the Congo - Stanley and King Leopold - are also well-researched. He avoids demonising them, despite his abhorrence of their behaviour and values, which few people in Europe would have challenged at the time. A masterful analysis of a much forgotten genocide.

11 people found this helpful

Stevie

Informative and devastating

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2019

Verified Purchase

The history of the Congo, Africa and even colonialism isn’t something I was ever taught in school and it’s never really been brought to my attention what’s gone on. I found the book really informative and easy to read as someone who was completely clueless about it all. Really interesting and utterly devastating what we have done to each other. Really well written and researched and I feel like it’s a book we should all read and a topic westerners should have some understanding of.

5 people found this helpful

D. J. B. James

The Excesses of the Belgian Congo

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book is a salutary read, what a brute Leopold was. It's a terrible indictment upon the human race that men can stoop to such inhuman and brutal behaviour in pursuit of nothing but personal power and bare-faced greed. I hadn't appreciated Henry Morton Stanley was equally inhuman, this list of characters involved in the Congo in the late 1800s makes for astonishing discovery: Jospeh Conrad, Sir Roger Casement, Morel and other familiar names one would not have associated with the excesses of a brutal dictatorship, posing as benign colonisation and the appalling methods employed to furnish the west with ivory and rubber. Although Casement, Morel and Conrad bitterly opposed it, It makes for horrifying reading nonetheless. Well done the author on his research, it must have been pretty gruesome to wade through the detail of the day, it makes one reflect upon Belgium's role in all of this and that now it occupies the centre of the EU. Mmm. You can't blame a people for the excesses of their rulers but one wonders how on earth they managed to keep so quiet about it. They must rank as the most brutal colonisers on the planet.