Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild

4 reviews

demonxore's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

3.5

This book was a good introduction to the atrocities of colonial Congo, but I feel like it is incomplete with regard to how historical events set the stage for perpetuated strife in the region. The ending feels rushed and loosely strung together. Hopefully there is another book out there that picks up where this leaves off. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Child death, Death, Police brutality, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual violence, Violence, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Racism, and Racial slurs

theblushbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark informative slow-paced

3.5

I knew about the horrible atrocities done to the Congolese by King Leopold II’s regime from my AP World History course, but this book illustrated the horrors to an entirely new level. It’s a challenging read with many horrifying characters, but I appreciated the inclusion of change makers like George Washington Williams and the author’s acknowledgement that there are no easy answers in this tale of history and a large absence of Congolese voices. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Gore, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Physical abuse, Trafficking, and Sexual violence

riverofpages's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Blood, Gun violence, Genocide, War, Religious bigotry, Torture, Rape, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Trafficking, Colonisation, Murder, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Death, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, and Addiction

buck50's review

challenging informative medium-paced

4.5

The history of the Belgian Congo doesn’t really get taught much so it’s amazing to have this enormous chunk of world history dropped in front of you in book form. Despite being extremely detailed, it’s very easy to digest. The horrors of the Congo rubber trade are… well, they’re horrors. But they’re told in a very matter of fact way, complete with references and statistics, and that makes what you learn so much more impactful.

It’s also amazing to see just where the phrase “crimes against humanity” came from and how it inspired so many to attempt to end this terrible period of history. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Police brutality, Violence, and Trafficking