The First 100... (long overdue... sorry!)

What words are there to describe the first one-hundred pages of King Leopold's Ghost, by Adam Hochschild? At times I found myself amused, oftentimes brought on by one of Stanley's ridiculous tales and the following commentary explaining why these tales were most likely invented. And of course, I never knew the origins of the well-known phrase, "Dr. Livingston, I presume?" and the many variations of it. Of course, in the beginning, you are inclined to feel sympathetic for Stanley and his horrible upbringing. Although, call me a bad person, but I found the fate of his two serious relationships to be rather amusing. It was most likely all for the better though, because could you imagine what kind of a life Stanley's life would have lived? Then to contrast Stanley's life came the story of King Leopold. Of course, Leopold didn't have the easiest life growing up either. His father refused to show any sort of affection, and Leopold even had to "apply for an audience" (p. 34). And he was always seen as a bit of an oddity. But the tales of both boys was amusing.

Of course, not all of the first hundred was so cheery and light-hearted. Almost as soon as Leopold comes into power, we get to see what a cunning and slimy character he is. He convinces the leaders of several other European countries that they needed to explore Africa for scientific reasons, assuring them that he would acquire no personal gain, the European explorers would be unarmed and would teach the natives useful skills, etc. He was brilliant, indeed, but his brilliance was put to shame in the evil way in which he used it. It was also disturbing to read about the way he treated his daughters. Of course it was custom to marry off the daughters to gain political fervor. But to have them married off so young, to much older men who didn't treat them well, and then to have no feelings of sorrow or sympathy, just seems so beyond the realm of humanity. Of course, if he could treat his own felsh and blood as property, then it makes sense that he had no problem doing the same to the Africans.

So the first one-hundred pages? They were exciting, amusing, disturbing, and eloquently written. They definitely leave you longing to hear the rest of the history of King Leopold's and Stanley's African expedition.