At the dawn of the twenty-first century, few nations are as tumultuous as Congo, the vast land at the heart of Africa. Rich in essential modern resources, it is also rife with gruesome conflicts. How did the former, relatively calm Belgian colony transform so drastically since its independence in 1960?

David Van Reybrouck provides a stunning narrative of Congo's history, spanning from before the arrival of explorer Stanley to the recent influence of China and the economic crisis. From 1885 to 1908, the land was ruled by King Leopold II, who amassed a fortune from rubber exploitation. Belgian colonization from 1908 to 1960 brought industrialization and infrastructure but was marked by paternalism.

The unexpected shift from colony to independent state around 1960 is a breathtaking tale filled with idealism and intrigue. The new nation plunged into a wild and chaotic adventure, culminating in one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II after thirty-two years of Mobutu's dictatorship.

Van Reybrouck draws from rare archival materials, groundbreaking research, and hundreds of interviews with Congolese people. His eyewitnesses range from centenarians to child soldiers, rebel leaders to smugglers, ministers to cassava sellers. Their stories are woven into this grand history.