The King Incorporated
Author | Neal Ascherson |
---|---|
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Publisher | George Allen & Unwin |
Publication date | 1963 |
Media type | |
Pages | 310 |
ISBN | 1-86207-290-6 |
923.1493 | |
Followed by | The Polish August : the self-limiting revolution |
The King Incorporated was the first history book published by award-winning Scottish journalist and historian Neal Ascherson exploring the course of the Congo Free State from its foundation to annexation, as well as the role of King Leopold II.
The King Incorporated was first published in 1963 (three years after the Congo's independence from Belgium) and has been reprinted in eight editions. The 1999 edition (published by Granta) modified the book's title to The King Incorporated: Leopold the Second and the Congo, omitting the reference to trusts.
Reception
The work was described by The Guardian as "a fascinating account of Leopold II of Belgium and his extraordinary attempt to integrate the rapacious exploitation of a personal colony with a version of 19th-century European kingship."[1] The celebrated British historian A.J.P. Taylor also praised the work.[2]
References
- ^ Wroe, Nicholas (12 April 2003). "Neal Ascherson: Romantic nationalist". The Guardian.
- ^ Ascherson, Neal (1999). The King Incorporated. Granta Books. pp. Cover.
- Use dmy dates from April 2022
- 1963 non-fiction books
- British biographies
- History books about colonialism
- Congo Free State
- History books about the Belgian Congo
- Books about Leopold II of Belgium
- Works about the European colonisation in Africa
- All stub articles
- History book stubs
- African history stubs
- African studies stubs
- Royalty book stubs