Dennis's Reviews > King Leopold's Ghost

Fact: Hitler killed over six million Jews during before and during WWII.

Fact: King Leopoldo was responsible for the deaths of more than ten million Africans from the mid 1889’s up to 1906 when he finally relinquished control of his colony.

King Leopoldo II was the second king of Belgium which itself was a country that was built ether in the early 1800’s. Leopoldo used his influence, power and diplomacy to gather n for himself a colony in central Africa that he would rule for his own personal benefit for decades. The Congo was not a Belgium colony, but King Leopold’s personal colony. Everything about the colony was as held in secret from Belgium including its parliament. As a result, millions of people suffered and died cases they attempted feed Leopold’s voracious and unquenchable thirst for the riches of the area. First with his Cory and then layer rubber.

This was a book of history but read like a book of horror. Nonfiction horror. It was a book that was well researched and soberly written. The main thesis described the horrors that occurred in the church big but the author made sure to touch on other European colonies as well as the US involvement in the Philippines just to add balance regarding other countries. However, the heartbreaking treatment of African enslavement within their own country and villages left me nauseated. That we as human beings can do this to our fellow man is purely shameful.

The author’s superbly written book was vastly effective in delivering its message. I will not forget this book soon. I highly recommend this book.