Books by Guy Vanthemsche
“There are a whole series of studies of the Congo, some of them written with a strong sense almost of wanting to put the Belgians on trial for their engagement with the Congo. This is a book which tries to get beyond those sorts of disputes. It sets out the complicated interrelationship between sections of Belgium and the Congo. We’ve got to remember that the Congo emerges in Belgium’s history somewhat by accident, in the sense that it was the product of an initiative by the king at the time—Leopold II—to create the Congo Free State. It was to be an independent entity, largely financed by his own funds, but soon became a source of finance for his own funds. It was when crises developed about the governance of the Congo in the early 20th century that Belgium, and Belgium’s parliament in particular, took over responsibility for it and turned it into something like a colony, much like other sections of Africa were divided up between other European states.” Read more...
Martin Conway, Historian
Interviews where books by Guy Vanthemsche were recommended
-
1
The Sorrow of Belgium
by Hugo Claus -
2
Belgium and the Congo, 1885-1980
by Guy Vanthemsche -
3
King Ottokar’s Sceptre
by Hergé -
4
The Legacy of Nazi Occupation: Patriotic Memory and National Recovery in Western Europe, 1945-1965
by Pieter Lagrou -
5
Souvenirs Pieux (Dear Departed)
by Marguerite Yourcenar
The best books on Belgium, recommended by Martin Conway
The best books on Belgium, recommended by Martin Conway
With a keen awareness of the vicissitudes of history and an ironic sense of national identity, Belgium is a country others could learn a lot from. Historian Martin Conway recommends some books to better understand Belgium/België/Belgique.