The Scramble for Africa by Thomas Pakenham

In today's intenational politics there is a lot of talk about the poverty in Africa, mismanagement, and democracy. Yet very seldom is the origin of the African states metioned. A mere 50 years ago practically the whole of Africa was administered as colonies of the Great Powers. Today these colonies are trying to survive as independent states, unregarded victims of the Cold War.

The Scramble for Africa is a narrative history on how these colonies came into being. The central character in the story, unbelievable as it might sound, is Leopold, King of Belgium.