Review of Spectacle: The Life of Ota Benga

The book Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga is a history book that appeared in 2015. The author is Pamela Newkirk. Like another recent book I reviewed, King Leopold’s Ghost, it is a popular history about a very interesting historical figure. I’ve been reading about the Congo for a new book I’m writing, and […]

Review of The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Sarah Penner’s new book The Lost Apothecary is very new, appearing just last month. It has received many favorable reviews from the public and is the debut novel from Penner. I picked it up hoping I’d find a new author I enjoy. After finishing, I’m thinking that all the people who gave The Lost Apothecary […]

Review of King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild

Mutilated children from the Congo Free State A Congolese man looking at the hand and foot of his daughter Cartoon criticizing Leopold’s rule I’ll give the last word to one of Leopold’s contemporaries. It’s no wonder that Mark Twain wrote, In fourteen years Leopold has deliberately destroyed more lives than have suffered death on all […]