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Beverly's Reviews > King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa
King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa
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The best non-fiction book I've ever read. The hyphenated title on the book is a story of greed, terror and heroism in colonial Africa and that sums it up very well. Such horrific treatment including brutal maiming and killing of workers, including children, who refused to work for King Leopold's rubber plantations is a story untold for centuries and deserves this fine treatment by Adam Hochschild. King Leopold of Belgium was an unrepentant monster.
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Quotes Beverly Liked
“Furthermore, unlike many other great predators of history, from Genghis Khan to the Spanish conquistadors, King Leopold II never saw a drop of blood spilled in anger. He never set foot in the Congo. There is something very modern about that, too, as there is about the bomber pilot in the stratosphere, above the clouds, who never hears screams or sees shattered homes or torn flesh.”
― King Leopold's Ghost
― King Leopold's Ghost
“And yet the world we live in—its divisions and conflicts, its widening gap between rich and poor, its seemingly inexplicable outbursts of violence—is shaped far less by what we celebrate and mythologize than by the painful events we try to forget. Leopold's Congo is but one of those silences of history.”
― King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa
― King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa
Reading Progress
Started Reading
2007
–
Finished Reading
December 5, 2017
– Shelved
January 27, 2019
– Shelved as:
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Lilo
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rated it 5 stars
Jan 27, 2018 03:20PM
I first learned about King Leopold's horrific crimes when I read "The Vertigo Years". I don't think I could stomach a whole book of this. Might even surpass the Holocaust.
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Yes. It was a genocide that no one ever talks about. And I don't know why I called this a novel, it's non-fiction. I must have had a senior moment. Thanks Lilo and Nina.
This is again something I don't understand. Apart from all the unspeakable cruelty, what would this monster do with all the riches he accumulated? He could not possibly have intended to help the Belgian population with these gains. I am sure he cared no more about his countrymen than he cared about the Africans he exploited and slaughtered (or, in fact, about any living creature). What on earth does a person do with so much money? I would not know what to do with it (other than help suffering people and animals, which, definitely, could not have been the goal of this monster).I ask myself the same question with Trump, the Koch brothers and other filthy rich people. What do they want so much money for? Doesn't make sense to me. One can only eat so much and use so many houses and vehicles (which all need maintenance and hired help, which usually spells trouble). The same goes for clothes. And a piece of clothing for x-thousand dollars is rarely more beautiful than one for 50-300 dollars.
Exactly, its consumerism at its most lethal, an accumulation of wealth for its own sake, on the lives and suffering of the people he enslaved. Colonialism and greed at its worst are personified in King Leopold of Belgium. The region and its people are stil suffering the effects till this day.
I suppose we should look inward and see how we are sharing our inner wealth for the betterment of all sentient beings. Making that much money becomes a game. The poor person who is miserly is just as guilty.
Nina wrote: "I suppose we should look inward and see how we are sharing our inner wealth for the betterment of all sentient beings. Making that much money becomes a game. The poor person who is miserly is just ..."How can you possibly compare a poor person who is miserly to a greedy and filthy-rich person who exploits the poor or even commits mass murder to gain riches? Just as guilty? Think again!
Yes Lilo, the 2 things have no comparison, King Leopold murdered and maimed and enslaved a whole group of people to become super rich. A person who hoards what little he or she has is not even on the same level. I don't even know if you can call a poor person miserly, if they try to hold on to the little they have, isn't that a virtue?
Beverly wrote: "Yes Lilo, the 2 things have no comparison, King Leopold murdered and maimed and enslaved a whole group of people to become super rich. A person who hoards what little he or she has is not even on t..."I agree 100% with what you are saying.
I hope that King Leopold is now burning in the hell.
Janete wrote: "I hope that King Leopold is now burning in the hell."Yes! He deserves to be barking in Hell!
This is not a novel.
Merilee wrote: "This is not a novel."I know, I don't know why I wrote that, but I edited it. Thanks!
leslie hamod wrote: "Fascinating! Thankyou!"You're welcome Leslie!
Thank you for that excellent and revealing review Beverley. I haven't heard of this author but from all you say about this King I don't think I could stomach reading it either.
Leila wrote: "Thank you for that excellent and revealing review Beverley. I haven't heard of this author but from all you say about this King I don't think I could stomach reading it either."It is revolting Leila, but well told and it is a story that should be better known. Thank you for your kind words.
Got to add after this endorsement!
Katie wrote: "Got to add after this endorsement!"Thanks Katie, you will not regret it. It is well-written and researched and so danged heart-breaking.
Beverly, it's been ages since I read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness but at its center was Belgium's need for rubber and King Leopold. A sad commentary on colonialism, and just as you say, greed. I'd like to read this one Beverly.
Libby wrote: "Beverly, it's been ages since I read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness but at its center was Belgium's need for rubber and King Leopold. A sad commentary on colonialism, and just as you..."Wow, I didn't know that was the rotten core in Conrad's Heart, I will
have to read it. It is very, very good and oh so sad Libby.
