I have just finished reading King Leopold's Ghost and despite the horrific contents I really enjoyed learning more about what happened in the Congo and what led to the history I am only aware of in more recent times. This is a truly horrific story of our time but unfortunately not that un common in our history. What is different in some ways here is the scale. The book is easy to read and pulls you in with great descriptions of the central characters on all sides of this.
What stood out to me is the amazing commitment from the early advocates that fought Leopold and tried to raise awareness of the atrocities in the Congo. They where truly amazing for what they achieved and did amongst significant odds. They where able to work networks very well. They also knew how to fund raise and where able to resource the mission effectively. The key characters where heroic in the determination they showed to stop what was happening.
The systematic approach of Leopold and his men to extract as much of the Congo's riches at any cost is wrong and hard to comprehend how men can do this? The greed that drove them and disconnection from the impact they had and the end result is hard to get your head around.
It is no wonder there is so many challenges in current day Africa and the Congo given its traumatic history. Definately worth a read!
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