This book chronicles the rule of King Leopold II of Belgium over the Congo during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hochschild reveals the atrocities that took place during this period including a forced labor system. Hochschild also details the efforts of men like E.D. Morel who revealed to the world all that was going on in the Congo. Finally, the book ends by drawing parallels of Leopold’s rule to the rule Joseph Mobutu who ruled the Congo for over three decades after the end of Belgian rule in the 1960s. Both regimes ruthlessly exploited the Congolese people for monetary gain. Overall, the book is very well written and offer an eye-opening account into one man’s rule during the scramble for Africa.

Availability: USMAI Catalog
Review Submitted by: Carson Fehner
Rating:  Highly Recommended.