Books Congo: The Epic History of a People  by David Van Reybrouck

"Congo: The Epic History of a People" by David Van Reybrouck is a monumental and deeply researched history of the Democratic Republic of Congo, tracing its story over several hundred years. The book covers key episodes such as the early slave trade, the ivory and rubber booms, the arrival of explorer Henry Morton Stanley, and the brutal regime of King Leopold II. It also addresses Belgian colonialism, the struggle for independence, Mobutu’s dictatorship, and the ongoing civil wars fueled by natural resource conflicts starting in 1996.

Van Reybrouck gives a richly detailed and humane account by incorporating voices from a wide range of Congolese people, including ordinary citizens, warlords, child soldiers, and members of the diaspora. The book frames Congo not merely as a failed state but as a nation with a complex, often tragic history intertwined with global events, such as World Wars and Cold War interventions.