About the Book

Mobutu Sese Seko, known as “The Leopard,” was president of Zaire for thirty-two years. He seduced Western powers, bought out the opposition, and dominated his people with a devastating combination of brutality and charm. While the people of Zaire struggled in poverty, he plundered the country’s copper and diamond resources.

Michela Wrong, a correspondent who witnessed firsthand Mobutu’s last days, traces the rise and fall of the idealistic young journalist who came to epitomize cruel despotism. In this engrossing and highly readable story, Wrong reveals how Belgium’s King Leopold, the CIA and the World Bank all helped bring about disaster in the country that is once again known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz is a fascinating look at the rise and fall of Mobutu.

Michela Wrong spent six years in Africa as a foreign correspondent covering events for Reuters, the BBC and the Financial Times. She is now based in London.

“A brilliant account of Africa’s most extraordinary dictator … This book will become a classic.” — The Economist

Critical Praise

"Wholly unsentimental ... Wrong gets it right ... [a] chillingly amusing cautionary tale." — Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post Book World

"A riveting inspection of the legacy of European colonialism in Africa" — A.L.A. Booklist

"The beauty of this book is that it makes sense of chaos." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"In lively prose ... Wrong combines travelogue with astute political analysis ... terrific." — Library Journal Review

"Provocative, touching, and sensitively written ... an eloquent, brilliantly researched account and a remarkably sympathetic study of a tragic land." — Sunday Times

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Product Details

• ISBN: 9780060934439
• ISBN 10: 0060934433
• Imprint: Harper Perennial
• On Sale: 05/28/2002
• Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 0.830 in (d)
• Pages: 368
• List Price: $19.99
• BISAC1 : BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Jewish
• BISAC2 : HISTORY / Africa / General
• BISAC3 : HISTORY / Military / World War II
• BISAC4 : HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century
• BISAC5 : POLITICAL SCIENCE / Public Policy / Cultural Policy
• BISAC6 : POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / General
• BISAC7 : POLITICAL SCIENCE / Imperialism
• BISAC8 : POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / African
• BISAC9 : BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Historical
• BISAC10 : BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
• BISAC11 : BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs