The Crime of the Congo

Best-known as the author of the Sherlock Holmes series of detective novels, in ‘The Crime of the Congo’ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle attempts to lay bare the atrocities which had taken place in the Congo under the rule of King Leopold II of Belgium. He describes the exploitation of the Congolese people, especially those involved in the rubber trade, as ‘twenty years of uninterrupted massacre’ and is dismissive of the eventual annexation by the Belgian government, viewing it as merely a cover-up and a continuation of the abuses. A fascinating piece of work from the prolific author about a horrifying era, which effects are still being felt today.