iBookstore Top 50 African History Ebooks

Chart of the top 50 most popular and best selling African history ebooks at the Apple iBookstore.

Chart list of the top African history ebooks was last updated:

History Ebook Best Sellers

Top African History Ebooks

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Dancing in the Glory of Monsters - Jason K. Stearns Cover Art

Dancing in the Glory of Monsters

Dancing in the Glory of Monsters The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa by Jason K. Stearns

A “meticulously researched and comprehensive” (Financial Times) history of the devastating war in the heart of Africa’s Congo   At the heart of Africa is the Congo, a country the size of western Europe. It borders nine other nations, and since 1996 it has been racked by a brutal war in which millions have died. In Dancing in the Glory of Monsters , renowned political activist and researcher Jason K. Stearns has written a compelling and deeply reported narrative of how Congo became a failed state that collapsed into a war of retaliatory massacres. Stearns brilliantly describes the key perpetrators, many of whom he met personally, and highlights the nature of the political system that brought these people to power, as well as the moral decisions with which the war confronted them. Now updated with a new introduction, Dancing in the Glory of Monsters tells the full story of Africa’s great war.

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King Leopold's Ghost - Adam Hochschild Cover Art

King Leopold's Ghost

King Leopold's Ghost A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild

The 25th Anniversary Edition, with a foreword by Barbara Kingsolver  "An enthralling story . . . A work of history that reads like a novel." — Christian Science Monitor “As Hochschild’s brilliant book demonstrates, the great Congo scandal prefigured our own times . . . This book must be read and reread.” — Los Angeles Times Book Review A National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist * A New York Times Notable Book In the late nineteenth century, as the European powers were carving up Africa, King Leopold II of Belgium carried out a brutal plundering of the territory surrounding the Congo River. In a horrifying episode of colonial exploitation, he ultimately slashed the area’s population by ten million yet still managed to shrewdly cultivate his reputation as a great humanitarian. A tale far richer than any novelist could invent,  King Leopold’s Ghost is the horrifying account of a megalomaniac of monstrous proportions—a dark chapter in African history. It is also the deeply moving portrait of those who defied Leopold: African rebel leaders who fought against hopeless odds and a brave handful of missionaries, travelers, and young idealists who went to Africa for work or adventure but unexpectedly found themselves witnesses to a holocaust and participants in the twentieth century’s first great human rights movement. How did one man orchestrate a holocaust while cultivating a reputation as a great humanitarian, and who were the heroes that dared to fight back? A Megalomaniacal King: Discover the story of King Leopold II of Belgium, a ruler of monstrous greed who plundered the Congo, slashing its population by millions while living a life of luxury. The Forgotten Holocaust: Uncover a horrifying, state-sponsored campaign of terror and forced labor that stands as one of the great mass killings of recent history. The First Human Rights Movement: Meet the brave handful of missionaries, travelers, and African rebels who defied Leopold and gave birth to the twentieth century’s first great international human rights campaign. Gripping Narrative History: Praised as a work of history that reads like a novel, this meticulously researched account brings a dark, forgotten chapter of the past to vivid, unforgettable life.

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The Storm of War - Andrew Roberts Cover Art

The Storm of War

The Storm of War A New History of the Second World War by Andrew Roberts

“Gripping. . . . splendid history. A brilliantly clear and accessible account of the war in all its theaters. Roberts’s prose is unerringly precise and strikingly vivid. It is hard to imagine a better-told military history of World War II.” –New York Times Book Review Andrew Roberts's acclaimed new history has been hailed as the finest single-volume account of this epic conflict. From the western front to North Africa, from the Baltic to the Far East, he tells the story of the war—the grand strategy and the individual experience, the brutality and the heroism—as never before. Meticulously researched and masterfully written, The Storm of War illuminates the war's principal actors, revealing how their decisions shaped the course of the conflict. Along the way, Roberts presents tales of the many lesser-known individuals whose experiences form a panoply of the courage and self-sacrifice, as well as the depravity and cruelty, of the Second World War.

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Three Sips of Gin - Timothy Bax Cover Art

Three Sips of Gin

Three Sips of Gin Dominating the Battlespace with Rhodesia's Elite Selous Scouts by Timothy Bax

The memoir of a special forces veteran of the Rhodesian War, with over a hundred photos included.   Nothing terrorized Russian and Chinese-backed guerillas fighting Rhodesia's bush war in the 1970s more than the famed Selous Scouts. The name of the unit struck fear in the hearts of even the most battle-hardened—rather than speak it, they referred to its soldiers simply as Skuzapu, or pickpockets. History has recorded the regiment as being one of the deadliest and most effective killing machines in modern counter-insurgency warfare.   In this book, a veteran of the unit shares his stories of childhood in colonial Africa with his British family, documenting a world where Foreign Service employees gathered at "the club" to find company and alcohol, leopards prowled the night, and his mother knew how to use a gun. Eventually he would move to Canada, only to feel drawn back to the continent where he grew up. There he would be recruited into the Selous Scouts, comprised of specially selected black and white soldiers of the Rhodesian army, supplemented with hardcore terrorists captured on the battlefield. Posing as communist guerrillas, members of this elite Special Forces unit would slip silently into the night to seek out insurgents in a deadly game of hide-and-seek played out between gangs and counter-gangs in the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the African bush.   By the mid-1970s, the Selous Scouts had begun to dominate Rhodesia's battle space. Working in conjunction with the elite airborne assault troops of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, the Selous Scouts accounted for an extraordinarily high proportion of enemy casualties. Not content with restricting themselves to hunting guerrillas inside Rhodesia, they began conducting external vehicle-borne assaults against camps situated deep inside neighboring countries.   Recounting his experiences while surviving in this cauldron of battle, while also relating with dry wit the day-to-day details and absurdities of the world that surrounded him, Timothy Bax provides a rare look at this time and place.

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The Fate of Africa - Martin Meredith Cover Art

The Fate of Africa

The Fate of Africa A History of the Continent Since Independence by Martin Meredith

The definitive story of African nations after they emerged from colonialism -- from Mugabe's doomed kleptocracy to Mandela's inspiring defeat of apartheid. The Fate of Africa has been hailed by reviewers as "A masterpiece....The nonfiction book of the year" ( The New York Post ); "a magnificent achievement" ( Weekly Standard ); "a joy," ( Wall Street Journal ) and "one of the decade's most important works on Africa" ( Publishers Weekly , starred review). Spanning the full breadth of the continent, from the bloody revolt in Algiers against the French to Zimbabwe's civil war, Martin Meredith's classic history focuses on the key personalities, events and themes of the independence era, and explains the myriad problems that Africa has faced in the past half-century. It covers recent events like the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the controversy over Western aid, the exploitation of Africa's resources, and the growing importance and influence of China.

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Mirror to the Church - Emmanuel M. Katongole & Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove Cover Art

Mirror to the Church

Mirror to the Church Resurrecting Faith after Genocide in Rwanda by Emmanuel M. Katongole & Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

We learn who we are as we walk together in the way of Jesus. So I want to invite you on a pilgrimage. Rwanda is often held up as a model of evangelization in Africa. Yet in 1994, beginning on the Thursday of Easter week, Christians killed other Christians, often in the same churches where they had worshiped together. The most Christianized country in Africa became the site of its worst genocide. With a mother who was a Hutu and a father who was a Tutsi, author Emmanuel Katongole is uniquely qualified to point out that the tragedy in Rwanda is also a mirror reflecting the deep brokenness of the church in the West. Rwanda brings us to a cry of lament on our knees where together we learn that we must interrupt these patterns of brokenness But Rwanda also brings us to a place of hope. Indeed, the only hope for our world after Rwanda’s genocide is a new kind of Christian identity for the global body of Christ—a people on pilgrimage together, a mixed group, bearing witness to a new identity made possible by the Gospel.

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A Human Being Died That Night - Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela Cover Art

A Human Being Died That Night

A Human Being Died That Night A South African Woman Confronts the Legacy of Apartheid by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela

Winner of the 2024 Templeton Prize “The story of an almost unimaginable dialogue…an exploration of evil, innocence, and the gray spaces in between.”— New York Times “A startlingly personal account…written with clarity, energy, and enormous empathy”— Washington Post A Mariner Books Classic Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, internationally reknowned for her understanding of violent histories and transgenerational trauma, recounts an extraordinary dialogue. As her book opens, in an act of inescapable symbolism and psychological courage, she enters Pretoria’s maximum security prison to meet Eugene de Kock, called “Prime Evil” for his role as killing machine for South Africa’s Apartheid regime. What follows is a journey into what it means to be human. In arresting scenes, Gobodo-Madikizela, who grew up in a Black township during apartheid South Africa, conveys her struggle with contradictory impulses to hold de Kock accountable and to forgive. Ultimately, she allows us to witness his extraordinary awakening of conscience. The author’s profound understanding of the language and memory of violence, and of the searingly complex issues surrounding apology and forgiveness after mass atrocity, have left a mark on international scholarship and on our emotional lives.   How does one confront the architect of apartheid’s atrocities—and find the empathy to see his humanity? A Dialogue with "Prime Evil": Step inside Pretoria’s maximum security prison for the unforgettable conversations between the author and Eugene de Kock, the head of apartheid’s death squad. The Psychology of Evil: A professional psychologist’s exploration of how ordinary people become perpetrators of state-sponsored terror, and whether a monster can rediscover his conscience. A Victim’s Empathy: The author grapples with her own history as a Black South African, navigating the stunning paradox of feeling compassion for the man who enforced her oppression. Beyond Retribution: An essential investigation into the difficult questions of justice, apology, and reconciliation in the aftermath of mass atrocity.

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The Yoruba from Prehistory to the Present - Aribidesi Usman & Toyin Falola Cover Art

The Yoruba from Prehistory to the Present

The Yoruba from Prehistory to the Present by Aribidesi Usman & Toyin Falola

The Yoruba are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, with significant populations in Nigeria, Benin and Togo, as well as a sizeable diasporic community around the world. By considering the art, religion, economics and political systems of the Yoruba, Aribidesi Usman and Toyin Falola chart the history of the Yoruba through the lens of the group's diverse and dynamic cultural and social practices. Using archaeological data, oral, and archival sources alongside rarely-discussed local histories Usman and Falola form a rich and detailed picture of the Yoruba from a period of early occupation and agriculture, the growth of complex societies and empires, the turbulent colonial period to the present day, constructing a comprehensive account of Yoruba history brought together in a single volume.

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A Continent for the Taking - Howard W. French Cover Art

A Continent for the Taking

A Continent for the Taking The Tragedy and Hope of Africa by Howard W. French

In A Continent for the Taking Howard W. French, a veteran correspondent for The New York Times , gives a compelling firsthand account of some of Africa’s most devastating recent history–from the fall of Mobutu Sese Seko, to Charles Taylor’s arrival in Monrovia, to the genocide in Rwanda and the Congo that left millions dead. Blending eyewitness reportage with rich historical insight, French searches deeply into the causes of today’s events, illuminating the debilitating legacy of colonization and the abiding hypocrisy and inhumanity of both Western and African political leaders. While he captures the tragedies that have repeatedly befallen Africa’s peoples, French also opens our eyes to the immense possibility that lies in Africa’s complexity, diversity, and myriad cultural strengths. The culmination of twenty-five years of passionate exploration and understanding, this is a powerful and ultimately hopeful book about a fascinating and misunderstood continent.

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The Mirror at Midnight - Adam Hochschild Cover Art

The Mirror at Midnight

The Mirror at Midnight A South African Journey by Adam Hochschild

A "stunning blend of reportage, travelogue, history and meditation" by the New York Times –bestselling author of King Leopold's Ghost ( Publishers Weekly ). National Book Award finalist Adam Hochschild brings a lifetime's familiarity with South Africa to bear in this eye-opening examination of a critical turning point in that nation's history: the Great Trek of 1836–39, during which Dutch-speaking white settlers, known as Boers, journeyed deep into the country's interior to escape the British colonial administration.   The mass migration culminated with the massacre of indigenous Zulus in the 1838 Battle of Blood River. Looking at the tensions of modern South Africa through the dramatic prism of the nineteenth century, Hochschild vividly recreates the battle—and its contentious commemoration by rival groups 150 years later. In his epilogue, Hochschild extends his view to the astonishing political changes that have occurred in the country in recent decades—and the changes yet to be made.   Hochschild's incisive take on these events, noted Nadine Gordimer, "is far more than an outsider's perception of the drama of our country. Read him, in particular, to understand the rise of white extremism which is threatening the democratic vision of the African National Congress and its allied progressive constituency among people of all colors."   "A good book for anyone who wants a succinct and precise account of how this fascinating country has got where it is. . . . This is a book I recommend warmly." —Archbishop Desmond Tutu   "One of the most illuminating books ever written on contemporary South Africa." — Publishers Weekly   "Thoroughly researched, immensely readable . . . A work of vivid reportage and astute political analysis." — San Francisco Chronicle

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The Africans - David Lamb Cover Art

The Africans

The Africans by David Lamb

During the four years he spent in black Africa as the bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, David Lamb traveled through almost every country south of the Sahara, logging more than 300,000 miles. He talked to presidents and guerrilla leaders, university professors and witch doctors. He bounced from wars to coups oceans apart, catching midnight flights to little-known countries where supposedly decent people were doing unspeakable things to one another. In the tradition of John Gunther's Inside Africa, The Africans is an extraordinary combination of analysis and adventure. Part travelogue, part contemporary history, it is a portrait of a continent that sometimes seems hell-bent on destroying itself, and of people who are as courageous as they are long-suffering.

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The Life of Walatta-Petros - Wendy Laura Belcher, Michael Kleiner & Galawdewos Cover Art

The Life of Walatta-Petros

The Life of Walatta-Petros A Seventeenth-Century Biography of an African Woman, Concise Edition by Wendy Laura Belcher, Michael Kleiner & Galawdewos

This concise edition of the biography of Walatta-Petros (1672) tells the story of an Ethiopian saint who lived from 1592 to 1642 and led a successful nonviolent movement to preserve African Christian beliefs in the face of European protocolonialism. This is the oldest-known book-length biography of an African woman written by Africans before the nineteenth century, and one of the earliest stories of African resistance to European influence. Written by her disciples after her death, The Life of Walatta-Petros praises her as a friend of women, a devoted reader, a skilled preacher, and a radical leader, providing a rare picture of the experiences and thoughts of Africans—especially women—before the modern era. In addition to an authoritative and highly readable translation, this edition, which omits the notes and scholarly apparatus of the hardcover, features a new introduction aimed at students and general readers.

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Historic Civilizations Of The World: Overview of major historic civilizations worldwide - P. Agrawal Cover Art

Historic Civilizations Of The World: Overview of major historic civilizations worldwide

Historic Civilizations Of The World: Overview of major historic civilizations worldwide by P. Agrawal

Historic Civilizations Of The World is an accessible and thoughtful guide to the rise, structure, survival, and transformation of human societies across time. Rather than treating civilization as a fixed label or a simple checklist of cities, monuments, kings, and wars, the book invites readers to look beneath the surface and understand the deeper systems that allowed historic communities to grow into complex societies. It explains that civilizations were not built by grandeur alone, but by food production, water management, record keeping, trade, law, craft, religion, urban planning, and the ability to coordinate people under changing conditions. The book begins by questioning the very meaning of the word "civilization," showing how the term can both help and mislead. It encourages readers to examine how historians and archaeologists interpret evidence, from written records and architecture to pottery, tools, burial customs, and settlement patterns. Through this approach, the reader learns that every civilization must be studied on its own terms, with attention to geography, environment, resources, belief systems, and social organization. A major strength of the book is its emphasis on everyday foundations. It shows that before palaces could rise or empires could expand, societies had to solve practical problems: how to grow enough food, store surplus grain, distribute water, organize labor, settle disputes, and preserve knowledge. Cities are presented not merely as large settlements, but as engines of trade, administration, culture, specialization, and innovation. Writing and calculation are explored as tools of memory and power, while religion and ritual are shown as social forces that gave meaning, order, and rhythm to public life. The book also highlights the essential skills that sustained civilizations: measurement, craftsmanship, metallurgy, education, governance, transport, maintenance, and resilience. It explains how disruption—whether caused by drought, war, disease, political rivalry, or shifting trade routes—tested the strength of every society. Civilizations did not always end suddenly; many transformed, reorganized, or passed their knowledge into later cultures. This perspective makes the book especially valuable because it replaces the old idea of simple "rise and fall" with a more realistic understanding of growth, stress, adaptation, and continuity. Written in clear, bookish language, Historic Civilizations Of The World is suitable for students, general readers, history lovers, and anyone seeking a broad but grounded introduction to the ancient and historic world. It does not reduce history to famous names and dates. Instead, it teaches readers how to think historically: to ask better questions, compare societies carefully, respect the limits of evidence, and see civilization as a living network of people, resources, institutions, beliefs, and skills. This book is ultimately a guide to understanding how humanity learned to build organized life—and how those achievements continue to shape the modern world.

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How Europe Underdeveloped Africa - Walter Rodney & Angela Davis Cover Art

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney & Angela Davis

“A call to arms in the class struggle for racial equity”—the hugely influential work of political theory and history, now powerfully introduced by Angela Davis ( Los Angeles Review of Books ).   This legendary classic on European colonialism in Africa stands alongside C.L.R. James’ Black Jacobins , Eric Williams’ Capitalism & Slavery , and W.E.B. Dubois’ Black Reconstruction . In his short life, the Guyanese intellectual Walter Rodney emerged as one of the leading thinkers and activists of the anticolonial revolution, leading movements in North America, South America, the African continent, and the Caribbean. In each locale, Rodney found himself a lightning rod for working class Black Power. His deportation catalyzed 20th century Jamaica's most significant rebellion, the 1968 Rodney riots, and his scholarship trained a generation how to think politics at an international scale. In 1980, shortly after founding of the Working People's Alliance in Guyana, the 38-year-old Rodney would be assassinated. In his magnum opus, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa , Rodney incisively argues that grasping "the great divergence" between the west and the rest can only be explained as the exploitation of the latter by the former. This meticulously researched analysis of the abiding repercussions of European colonialism on the continent of Africa has not only informed decades of scholarship and activism, it remains an indispensable study for grasping global inequality today.

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Scouting on Two Continents - F.R. Burnham Cover Art

Scouting on Two Continents

Scouting on Two Continents by F.R. Burnham

Frederick Russell Burnham: Explorer, discoverer, cowboy, and Scout. Native American, he served as chief of scouts in the Boer War, an intimate friend of Lord Baden-Powell. As an honorary Scout of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), he has served as an inspiration to the youth of the Nation and is the embodiment of the qualities of the ideal Scout.The BSA made Burnham an Honorary Scout in 1927, and for his noteworthy and extraordinary service to the Scouting movement, Burnham was bestowed the highest commendation given by the BSA, the Silver Buffalo Award, in 1936. Throughout his life he remained active in Scouting at both the regional and the national level in the United States and he corresponded regularly with Baden-Powell on Scouting topics.

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The Future That Was - Durba Mitra Cover Art

The Future That Was

The Future That Was A History of Third World Feminism Against Authoritarianism by Durba Mitra

How Third World women seized the means of knowledge production to fight against rising authoritarianism and imagine a future freer than our present Beginning in the 1970s, women of the decolonizing world offered new visions of liberation that centered the ideas and lives of women. Galvanized by International Women’s Year in 1975 and the UN’s Decade of Women, Third World women developed novel ideas of equality and self-determination, building a new internationalism in opposition to neocolonialism and postcolonial authoritarianism. In The Future That Was , feminist historian Durba Mitra offers a pathbreaking account of how these women wrote Third World feminism into being, catalyzing a momentous expansion of knowledge about women, gender, and sexuality that transformed emancipatory politics across the globe. Mitra shows how women from former colonies in South Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond envisioned a radically just world—and did so by insisting that research on the world’s women lay at the heart of debates about global inequality, development, and human rights. Women gathered at international conferences, wrote reports on the dangers facing women, and took to the streets in protest, building a world of knowledge that contested the devastating effects of patriarchy and colonialism. Yet, despite hundreds of laws, institutions, and publications created through the efforts of these women, the future they imagined was never fully realized. The Future That Was transforms the story of decolonization and its aftermath through the history and ideas of women. By excavating these vital pasts, Mitra shows how we might envision a future of our own that is freer than the present.

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A History of Botswana - Henry Evans Cover Art

A History of Botswana

A History of Botswana by Henry Evans

A History of Botswana invites readers on a sweeping journey through one of Africa’s most remarkable nations, from the earliest footsteps of hunter‑gatherers in the Kalahari to the modern republic celebrated for its stability and visionary leadership. The book opens with the land itself—its deserts, deltas, and ancient rock formations—showing how geography shaped survival strategies, spiritual beliefs, and the ingenuity of the San peoples who mastered life in a harsh environment long before any borders were drawn. Readers will then follow the arrival of Bantu‑speaking farmers and ironworkers, the rise of early chiefdoms and the powerful Tswana kingdoms that built wealth on cattle, trade, and diplomatic skill. The narrative explores how these societies interacted with Khoesan groups, absorbed new ideas, and created flexible political structures that would later serve as a foundation for resilience against external pressures. Chapters on European contact, the Difaqane upheaval, and missionary influence reveal how Botswana navigated colonial encroachment while preserving core institutions such as the kgotla and traditional leadership. The story continues through the Bechuanaland Protectorate era, illustrating how limited British investment inadvertently allowed Tswana governance to persist, and how leaders like Seretse Khama used education, diplomacy, and pragmatic reforms to steer the country toward independence. Readers will experience the transformative impact of diamond discovery, learning how mineral revenues were deliberately channeled into schools, clinics, infrastructure, and conservation rather than personal enrichment, and how Botswana’s commitment to consensus and accountability fostered a durable multi‑party democracy. Social development, environmental stewardship, and public health challenges receive detailed attention, from early education and veterinary campaigns to the HIV/AIDS crisis and the nation’s innovative response. The final chapters bring the tale into the twenty‑first century, examining efforts to diversify the economy, balance urban growth with communal values, confront climate change, and maintain Botswana’s role as a stabilizing force in southern Africa. By the end, readers will have gained a deep appreciation for how a combination of ancient wisdom, adaptable leadership, and careful resource management enabled Botswana to turn adversity into a model of peaceful progress.

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Mama Ngina Kenyatta Biography of Kenya’s First Lady and Her Legacy - N.W. MARTIN Cover Art

Mama Ngina Kenyatta Biography of Kenya’s First Lady and Her Legacy

Mama Ngina Kenyatta Biography of Kenya’s First Lady and Her Legacy by N.W. MARTIN

Discover the extraordinary life of Mama Ngina Kenyatta , widow of Kenya's founding president Jomo Kenyatta and mother of President Uhuru Kenyatta . This inspiring biography follows the journey from a rural Kikuyu homestead to the center of Kenya's political and social transformation. Spanning nearly a century of history, this book reveals the resilience, quiet influence, and enduring legacy of a woman who stood close to power while shaping the story of a nation. Inside this biography you will discover: ♦ Early life in Ngenda , Kiambu between 1933 and 1949, growing up in a community shaped by both traditional leadership and colonial rule ♦ Marriage to Jomo Kenyatta in 1951 and entry into the heart of Kenya's struggle for independence ♦ Years of detention during the Mau Mau Emergency from 1952 to 1959 and the strength shown during a difficult period in Kenya's history ♦ The rise of one of Africa's most influential political families and the responsibilities of national leadership ♦ Support for education, community development, and stability across decades of change ♦ Life as wife to a president and mother to a president while helping guide the next generation of leadership Perfect for readers interested in: ♦ Women in politics and power ♦ Inspirational biographies of remarkable leaders ♦ Kenyan history and the independence movement ♦ Women in leadership who shape history and society ♦ Resilience, determination, and the impact of trailblazing women This biography offers a powerful look at how women in leadership turn influence into progress and leave an unforgettable impact.

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Patrice Lumumba and the Quest for Congolese Independence - Albert Howe Cover Art

Patrice Lumumba and the Quest for Congolese Independence

Patrice Lumumba and the Quest for Congolese Independence by Albert Howe

In the heart of Africa, a nation's destiny was forged in fire— Patrice Lumumba and the Quest for Congolese Independence tells the gripping story of a country's tumultuous journey from brutal colonial oppression to a fleeting moment of freedom that would shake the world. At its center stands Patrice Lumumba, a charismatic and uncompromising leader whose powerful vision of unity, justice, and sovereignty inspired millions but provoked forces that would conspire to silence him forever. This definitive narrative delves deep into the vibrant nationalist movements, the complex interplay of ethnic identities, and the dramatic political battles that defined the late 1950s Congo. Against the backdrop of Cold War rivalries and global decolonization waves, Lumumba's fight for true independence exposes the brutal realities of colonial power, the treacheries of international intrigue, and the unyielding spirit of a people determined to reclaim their dignity. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, this book unveils the personalities, ideologies, and mass mobilizations that shaped a nation—and the tragic downfall of its most iconic figure. It explores how Lumumba's legacy continues to inspire struggles for justice across Africa and beyond, while revealing the enduring challenges faced by newly independent states caught between global superpowers and internal divisions. Patrice Lumumba and the Quest for Congolese Independence is a powerful chronicle of hope, betrayal, and resilience—a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the forces that shaped modern Africa and the timeless fight for freedom in a world of competing empires.

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Memories of the New Kingdom Collection - Scriptural Research Institute Cover Art

Memories of the New Kingdom Collection

Memories of the New Kingdom Collection by Scriptural Research Institute

The New Kingdom era of Egyptian history emerged from the darkness of the Second Intermediate Period, when the Theban dynasty drove out the Hyksos from Egypt, and went on the conquer Canaan, and Nubia. The Hyksos dynasty appears to have been largely as a result of the Minoan eruption in Greece, which darkened the sky of Egypt and blanketed northern Egypt with up to 2 meters (6 feet) in ash. The Tempest Stele from Karnak described the effects of the storm reaching all the war to southern Egypt during the era of Ahmose I, the Pharaoh that ultimately drove the Hyksos from Egypt. This period of destruction was shortly before Ahmose I launched his successful invasion of Northern Egypt and captured the Hyksos capital of Avaris. The Autobiography of Ahmose Pen-Ebana covers many of the early battles that forged the Egyptian New Kingdom, including the Battle of Avaris, and the subsequent Battle of Sharuhen a few years later, which resulted in Egypt taking control over the entire former Hyksos dominion. Ahmose Pen-Ebana is often described as an Egyptian Admiral, however, his career in the Egyptian navy encompassed decades under the service of a series of Pharaohs, including Ahmose I, Amenhotep I, and Thutmose I, spanning more than 50 years from circa 1550 to the 1490s BC. As he described himself as a youth at the Battle of Avaris, where he served as his father's replacement in the fleet, it is likely that he did not retire until he was over 60. He listed extensive campaigns throughout his life, mostly in northern Sudan along the Nile and Yellow Nile, before the pharaoh turned his attention to the north, and sent them to occupy Syria. The herald Ahmose Pen-Nekhbet's biography covers much of the same era, however, his viewpoint was that of a pharaoh's herald instead of a soldier, therefore, he only mentions the battles that the pharaoh was present at. The first battle that Pen-Nekhbet partook in was the battle in Djahy under Amenhotep I, which may have been the Battle of Sharuhen, or a later battle in southern Canaan. He only reported being present at one battle in Nubia, unlike the extensive campaigns that Pen-Ebana fought in, however, also reported battles against the Libyans of the Saharan oases and a major invasion of Syria. Pen-Nekhbet served much longer than Pen-Ebana, serving the Pharaohs Amenhotep I, Thutmose I, Thutmose II, and Hatshepsut, spanning approximately 70 years between 1540 through the 1470s BC. He reported being an old man during Hatshepsut's lifetime and carrying the infant princess Neferure, which would have been in around 1480 BC.

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Carthage of the Phoenicians - Mabel Moore Cover Art

Carthage of the Phoenicians

Carthage of the Phoenicians In the Light of Modern Excavation (Illustrated) by Mabel Moore

Carthage of the Phoenicians: In the Light of Modern Excavation is an interesting archaeological study of the ancient city. The original illustrations of artifacts are included.

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A History of Eritrea - Omar Abdi Cover Art

A History of Eritrea

A History of Eritrea by Omar Abdi

A History of Eritrea takes readers on an epic journey that begins long before any modern borders were drawn, exploring the fossil-rich Danakil Depression where early hominids walked the Red Sea coast over a million years ago. You’ll discover how the region’s ancient peoples left their mark in stone tools, rock art, and the legendary Land of Punt that supplied Egyptian pharaohs with myrrh, gold, and exotic animals. The narrative follows the rise of indigenous kingdoms like D’mt and the towering Aksumite Empire, a trading powerhouse that minted its own currency, linked Rome and India, and embraced both Christianity and Islam in the Horn of Africa. From the medieval era onward, the book reveals how Eritrea’s strategic coastline became a contested prize for Ottoman sultans, Egyptian khedives, and eventually Italian colonists who transformed Asmara into a modernist “Little Rome” while imposing harsh racial segregation and exploiting the land and its people. You’ll experience the seismic shock of the Battle of Adwa, the complexities of British military administration after World War II, and the painful path to federation with Ethiopia that quickly unraveled into annexation and a three‑decade war for independence. The heart of the work is the gripping chronicle of the Eritrean liberation struggle: the early guerrilla raids of Hamid Idris Awate, the ideological split that birthed the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front, the grueling trench warfare of the Sahel mountains, and the historic victories at Afabet and Massawa that shattered the Ethiopian army. Through vivid detail, you’ll witness how a generation of fighters built underground hospitals, schools, and factories, forging a national identity rooted in self‑reliance, gender equality, and social transformation. After independence in 1993, the book examines the daunting challenges of nation‑building—demobilizing troops, launching the Nakfa currency, instituting national service, and drafting a constitution that remains unimplemented. It also covers the tragic border war with Ethiopia, the long “no war, no peace” stalemate, the eventual rapprochement, and Eritrea’s shifting alliances in the turbulent Horn of Africa. Finally, you’ll follow the Eritrean diaspora worldwide, seeing how remittances, political activism, and cultural communities continue to shape the nation’s story from exile. By the end of A History of Eritrea, readers will have gained a deep, nuanced understanding of how geography, ancient civilizations, foreign powers, religious movements, colonial rule, and relentless struggles for self‑determination have forged a unique African nation. This is not merely a recounting of dates and battles; it is an immersive experience of a people whose identity has been hammered out of desert, highland, and sea, offering insight into the forces that still drive Eritrea’s place in the twenty‑first century.

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South Africa: History in an Hour - Anthony Holmes Cover Art

South Africa: History in an Hour

South Africa: History in an Hour by Anthony Holmes

Love history? Know your stuff with History in an Hour. With the passing of Nelson Mandela, ‘the father of the nation’, comes the end of an era, and the moment to look back on his remarkable saving, and remaking, of South Africa. After years of oppression and racial inequality, concentrated violence and apartheid, Mandela led the country to unite ‘for the freedom of us all’ as the country’s first black President. SOUTH AFRICA: HISTORY IN AN HOUR gives a lively account of the formation of modern South Africa, from the first contact with seventeenth-century European sailors, through the colonial era, the Boer Wars, apartheid and the establishment of a tolerant democracy in the late twentieth century. Here is a clear and fascinating overview of the emergence of the ‘Rainbow Nation’. Know your stuff: read about South African history in just one hour. Reviews ‘If the past is a foreign country, History in an Hour is like a high-class tour operator, offering delightfully enjoyable short breaks in the rich and diverse continent of our shared past’ Dominic Sandbrook ‘The practice of History is ever-evolving, and the History In An Hour idea brings it back up to date for the digital age’ Andrew Roberts, Bookseller ‘This is genius’ MacWorld.com About the author After a career in the management of international engineering companies, Anthony Holmes retired in 2000 and from that time he has concentrated on writing books and articles, mainly in the field of history. He has lived in South Africa since 1949 and witnessed the events leading up to the transition to a fully democratic country in 1994.

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The Rhodesian War - Paul L Moorcraft & Peter McLaughlin Cover Art

The Rhodesian War

The Rhodesian War A Military History by Paul L Moorcraft & Peter McLaughlin

A military history of the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia—now Zimbabwe—spanning from 1890 to the 1970s. In this exciting book, authors Paul Moorcroft and Peter McLaughlin examine the military history of Southern Rhodesia, from the first resistance to colonial rule through the period of UDI by the Smith government to the Lancaster House agreement that transferred power. They recount the Rhodesian security forces' operations against the Black nationalist guerillas, and the intensity of the fighting and courage of the participants will surprise and enthrall readers. Atrocities were committed by both sides, but equally the protagonists were playing for very high stakes. But this is more than just a book on military operations. The authors provide expert analysis of the historical situation and examine events up to the present day, including Mugabe's operations against rival tribes and white farmers. For a thorough work on its subject, this book cannot be bettered. It is essential reading for those wishing to learn more about a counter-insurgency campaign. The ingenuity of the Rhodesian military fighting against overwhelming odds and restricted by sanctions is impressive, but the outcome culminating in the Lancaster House Agreement was inevitable. Praise for The Rhodesian War "An outstanding exception to most accounts of the Rhodesian civil war . . . achieved impressive objectivity in concentrating on operational issues." —Anthony Verrier, author of The Road to Zimbabwe "The book is full of intrigue and plots. South African intelligence wanted to assassinate Mugabe, but there might also have been plans afoot to kill of Britain's Prince Charles during his visit to Harare." —Heidi Kingstone, The Star (South Africa)

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The Rhodesian War - Paul L Moorcraft & Peter McLaughlin Cover Art

The Rhodesian War

The Rhodesian War Fifty Years On by Paul L Moorcraft & Peter McLaughlin

A political and military analysis of this conflict in southern Africa with maps, photos, and a new introduction assessing its long aftermath. A half century after the Universal Declaration of Independence, this superb book depicts the military history of Southern Rhodesia from the first resistance to colonial rule, through the period of UDI by the Smith government to the Lancaster House agreement that transferred power. There are vivid accounts of the operations against the black nationalist guerillas by the security forces, and the intensity of the fighting and courage of the participants will surprise and enthrall readers. Atrocities were undoubtedly committed by both sides as the protagonists played for very high stakes. But this is more than just a book on military operations. The authors are able to provide expert analysis of the historical situation and examine events well into the twenty-first century, including Mugabe's operations against rival tribes and white farmers. With a new introduction, this is essential reading for those wishing to learn more about a counterinsurgency campaign and why despite the ingenuity of the Rhodesian military fighting against overwhelming odds and restricted by sanctions, the outcome culminating in the Lancaster House Agreement was inevitable.

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The South African Defence Forces in the Border War 1966-1989 - Leopold Scholtz Cover Art

The South African Defence Forces in the Border War 1966-1989

The South African Defence Forces in the Border War 1966-1989 by Leopold Scholtz

The SADF in the Border War 1966-1989 offers the first comprehensive analysis of the South African Defense Force's role in the Border War in Namibia and Angola since the end of this conflict in 1989. It investigates the causes of the Border War and follows its progress and escalation in the 1980s. It also considers the broader international context against which this conflict took place. The author brings vital new information to light gained from documents which have since been declassified. This includes documents from the State Security Council, the department of foreign affairs, the SADF itself, as well as from the Cuban and Soviet governments. It sheds light on the objectives of the National Party government in both Angola and the former Southwest Africa, the SADF's strategy in the war and its cross-border operations in Angola. To sketch as complete a picture as possible of individual operations, the author not only interviewed several high ranking SADF officers, but also included information from the Cuban archives and testimonies of Cuban and Russian officers. All the major operations and battles are discussed, including Savannah, Reindeer, Sceptic, Protea and Moduler, as well as the battles of Cassinga and Cuito Cuanavale. Where a battle had no clear winner, the author asks what the aim was of each of the parties involved and whether they succeeded in achieving that goal. In this way, he offers fresh perspectives on long-running and often controversial debates, for instance on who won the battle of Cuito Cuanavale. In the last chapter, the author looks at the objectives of all the parties involved in the war and whether they achieved them. In the process he tries to answer the all-important question: Who won the Border War?

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Into the Heart of the Whore - Jacques Pauw Cover Art

Into the Heart of the Whore

Into the Heart of the Whore The Story of Apartheid's Death Squads by Jacques Pauw

The ongoing assassinations of anti-apartheid activists led to rumours that some kind of third force must be responsible. The South African government flatly denied any involvement. All investigations of the matter were met with stony silence. The first crack in the wall came with the publication by the Vrye Weekblad newspaper of the extraordinary story of Dirk Coetzee, former Security Branch Captain. His tale of murder, kidnapping, bombing and poisoning provided corroboration of the shocking confessions made by Almond Nofemela on death row. Slowly the dark secret started unravelling under the probing of determined journalists. In the Heart of the Whore introduces the reader to the secret underworld of the death squads. It explains when and why they were created, who ran them, what methods they employed, who the victims and perpetrators were. Jacques Pauw was more closely involved with the subject than any other person outside the police and armed forces. In this groundbreaking work he looks at the devastating effect of the secret war on the opponents of apartheid as well as the corrosive effects on the people who committed these crimes.

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1942 - Richard Hargreaves Cover Art

1942

1942 Hitler's Gamble for Victory by Richard Hargreaves

"[A] well-written and carefully researched account that illuminates all sides of these grinding battles." The Wall Street Journal A unique history of the Axis powers attempt to win the Second World War in 1942, told through the eyes of those who were there. Drawing upon sources in German, Russian, Italian, Hungarian, Romanian and English, 1942: Hitler's Gamble describes the spring and summer campaigns in the Soviet Union and Africa which crowned the Axis forces with fresh laurels. Impressive victories were won at Kharkov, Sevastopol and Tobruk. Axis powers were then on the cusp of victory in Egypt, the Caucasus and Stalingrad until the seemingly unstoppable juggernaut was brought to a halt in the autumn of 1942. Based upon 15 years of research in archives, museums and libraries across Europe, this is a unique account of this critical year in World War II. No other history has looked at the Eastern and North African theatres in conjunction, masterfully illustrating how the crushing gains on both fronts would be lost by the end of the year. Richard Hargreaves shines a light on the little studied areas of the war such as the aftermath of Tobruk and challenges traditional German-centric accounts of the Caucasus campaign. Strategy and the hubris of Hitler and his generals is brilliantly illustrated but so too are the lives and deaths of ordinary soldiers caught up in these extraordinary events.

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An African History of Africa - Zeinab Badawi Cover Art

An African History of Africa

An African History of Africa From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence by Zeinab Badawi

Already a major international bestseller, Zeinab Badawi’s sweeping and much-needed survey of African history traces the continent’s extraordinary legacy from prehistory to the present from the African perspective. “Equal parts gripping and galvanizing. . . . Researched across more than 30 countries, it brings the dazzling civilizations of pre-colonial Africa vividly to life. A book that feels both long-overdue—and wholly worth the wait.” —British Vogue Everyone is originally from Africa, and this book is therefore for everyone. For too long, Africa’s history has been dominated by western narratives of slavery and colonialism, or simply ignored. Now, Zeinab Badawi sets the record straight. In this fascinating book, Badawi guides us through Africa’s spectacular history—from the very origins of our species, through ancient civilizations and medieval empires with remarkable queens and kings, to the miseries of conquest and the elation of independence. Visiting more than thirty African countries to interview countless historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and local storytellers, she unearths buried histories from across the continent and gives Africa its rightful place in our global story. The result is a gripping new account of Africa: an epic, sweeping history of the oldest inhabited continent on the planet, told through the voices of Africans themselves. This landmark history, told from an African perspective, reveals: Pre-colonial Civilizations: Journey from the origins of humankind to the dazzling medieval empires of Kush, Aksum, and Great Zimbabwe, long ignored by Western accounts. Legendary Rulers: Meet the remarkable warrior queens and kings—like Mansa Musa and Queen Njinga—who shaped the continent long before European arrival. An On-the-Ground Account: Discover a new narrative built from the author’s travels across 30+ countries and countless interviews with local historians, elders, and storytellers. Slavery, Conquest, and Liberation: Go beyond the Western narrative to understand the true legacy of conquest and witness Africa’s fight for independence, told through the voices of its own people.

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River of the Gods - Candice Millard Cover Art

River of the Gods

River of the Gods Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The harrowing story of one of the great feats of exploration of all time and its complicated legacy—from the New York Times bestselling author of The River of Doubt and Destiny of the Republic A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: THE WASHINGTON POST • GOODREADS "A lean, fast-paced account of the almost absurdly dangerous quest by [Richard Burton and John Speke] to solve the geographic riddle of their era." — The New York Times Book Review For millennia the location of the Nile River’s headwaters was shrouded in mystery. In the 19th century, there was  a frenzy of interest in ancient Egypt. At the same time, European powers sent off waves of explorations intended to map the unknown corners of the globe – and extend their colonial empires. Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke were sent by the Royal Geographical Society to claim the prize for England. Burton spoke twenty-nine languages, and was a decorated soldier. He was also mercurial, subtle, and an iconoclastic atheist. Speke was a young aristocrat and Army officer determined to make his mark, passionate about hunting, Burton’s opposite in temperament and beliefs. From the start the two men clashed. They would endure tremendous hardships, illness, and constant setbacks. Two years in, deep in the African interior, Burton became too sick to press on, but Speke did, and claimed he found the source in a great lake that he christened Lake Victoria. When they returned to England, Speke rushed to take credit, disparaging Burton. Burton disputed his claim, and Speke launched another expedition to Africa to prove it. The two became venomous enemies, with the public siding with the more charismatic Burton, to Speke’s great envy. The day before they were to publicly debate,Speke shot himself. Yet there was a third man on both expeditions, his name obscured by imperial annals, whose exploits were even more extraordinary. This was Sidi Mubarak Bombay, who was enslaved and shipped from his home village in East Africa to India. When the man who purchased him died, he made his way into the local Sultan’s army, and eventually traveled back to Africa, where he used his resourcefulness, linguistic prowess and raw courage to forge a living as a guide. Without Bombay and men like him, who led, carried, and protected the expedition, neither Englishman would have come close to the headwaters of the Nile, or perhaps even survived. In River of the Gods Candice Millard has written another peerless story of courage and adventure, set against the backdrop of the race to exploit Africa by the colonial powers.

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Atlantic - Simon Winchester Cover Art

Atlantic

Atlantic Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms,and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories by Simon Winchester

"Variably genial, cautionary, lyrical, admonitory, terrifying, horrifying and inspiring…A lifetime of thought, travel, reading, imagination and memory inform this affecting account." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Blending history and anecdote, geography and reminiscence, science and exposition, New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester tells the breathtaking saga of the Atlantic Ocean in a masterful work of narrative nonfiction. A gifted storyteller and consummate historian, Winchester sets the great blue sea's epic narrative against the backdrop of mankind's history of exploration and intellectual evolution, telling not only the story of an ocean, but the story of civilization. Fans of Winchester's Krakatoa, The Man Who Loved China , and The Professor and the Madman will love this masterful, penetrating, and resonant tale of humanity finding its way across the ocean of history. How did a sea once seen as an impassable barrier become the cradle of Western civilization? A Biography of an Ocean: Follow the Atlantic from its violent geological birth millions of years ago, through its vibrant middle age, to its predicted eventual demise. Maritime History: Discover the human story—from exploration and trade to piracy and warfare—told through the unique framework of Shakespeare’s Seven Ages of Man. Science and Storytelling: Journey with Winchester as he blends personal anecdote from his own sea voyages with deep scientific and historical research. The Story of Civilization: Understand how this single body of water became the fulcrum for the modern world, connecting continents and shaping empires.

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The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu - Joshua Hammer Cover Art

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu And Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts by Joshua Hammer

**New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice** To save ancient Arabic texts from Al Qaeda, a band of librarians pulls off a brazen heist worthy of Ocean’s Eleven in this “fast-paced narrative that is…part intellectual history, part geopolitical tract, and part out-and-out thriller” ( The Washington Post ) from the award-winning journalist and author of The Falcon Thief . In the 1980s, a young adventurer and collector for a government library, Abdel Kader Haidara, journeyed across the Sahara Desert and along the Niger River, tracking down and salvaging tens of thousands of ancient Islamic and secular manuscripts that were crumbling in the trunks of desert shepherds. His goal: preserve this crucial part of the world’s patrimony in a gorgeous library. But then Al Qaeda showed up at the door. “Part history, part scholarly adventure story, and part journalist survey…Joshua Hammer writes with verve and expertise” ( The New York Times Book Review ) about how Haidara, a mild-mannered archivist from the legendary city of Timbuktu, became one of the world’s greatest smugglers by saving the texts from sure destruction. With bravery and patience, Haidara organized a dangerous operation to sneak all 350,000 volumes out of the city to the safety of southern Mali. His heroic heist “has all the elements of a classic adventure novel” ( The Seattle Times ), and is a reminder that ordinary citizens often do the most to protect the beauty of their culture. His the story is one of a man who, through extreme circumstances, discovered his higher calling and was changed forever by it.

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There Was a Country - Chinua Achebe Cover Art

There Was a Country

There Was a Country A Memoir by Chinua Achebe

From the legendary author of Things Fall Apart —a long-awaited memoir of coming of age in a fragile new nation, and its destruction in a tragic civil war For more than forty years, Chinua Achebe maintained a considered silence on the events of the Nigerian civil war, also known as the Biafran War, of 1967–1970, addressing them only obliquely through his poetry. Decades in the making, There Was a Country is a towering account of one of modern Africa’s most disastrous events, from a writer whose words and courage left an enduring stamp on world literature. A marriage of history and memoir, vivid firsthand observation and decades of research and reflection, There Was a Country is a work whose wisdom and compassion remind us of Chinua Achebe’s place as one of the great literary and moral voices of our age.

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Africa: A History - Alvin M. Josephy Cover Art

Africa: A History

Africa: A History by Alvin M. Josephy

Most of us still know less about Africa's past and peoples than we do about the continent's wild animals. And what we do know is colored by romance - safaris and treks and camel caravans, Solomon's mine and Tutankhamun's curse, the shores of Tripoli and the snows of Kilimanjaro. Yet the ancestor of all humankind may have lived in Africa. The world's longest-lived, literate civilization was African. Through the ages, great civilizations rose and fell in what was once called "darkest" Africa, leaving behind mysterious fortresses and splendid art. Christianity and Islam battled age-old beliefs - and each other. Traders on camels were followed by explorers in caravels and by a plague of invaders, hungry for ivory and diamonds and the "black gold" of slavery. In just the last half century, independence has swept away the old maps and colonial ways to jar the balance of the world. Here is Africa's story.

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Machete Season - Jean Hatzfeld & Linda Coverdale Cover Art

Machete Season

Machete Season The Killers in Rwanda Speak by Jean Hatzfeld & Linda Coverdale

A chilling and illuminating account of the Rwandan genocide, as told by the killers themselves. In Machete Season , veteran foreign correspondent Jean Hatzfeld reports on his interviews with nine Hutu killers who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which 800,000 Tutsis were massacred by their Hutu fellow citizens—about 10,000 a day, mostly hacked to death by machete. The killers, all friends from a single region, helped slaughter 50,000 out of their 59,000 Tutsi neighbors. Now in prison, some awaiting execution, they provide extraordinary testimony about the genocide they perpetrated. With shocking candor, the men describe how the killing was easier than farming, recount their first murders, and reflect on their actions. Hatzfeld's lucid and humane meditation on their horrific testimony considers what this means for human morality and ethics. Suggesting that such atrocities may be within the realm of ordinary human conduct, this disturbing yet enlightening book offers a new perspective on the foundations of morality in the wake of crimes against humanity.

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Playing the Enemy - John Carlin Cover Art

Playing the Enemy

Playing the Enemy Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin

Read the book that inspired the Academy Award and Golden Globe winning 2009 film INVICTUS featuring Morgan Freeman and Matt Daymon, directed by Clint Eastwood. Beginning in a jail cell and ending in a rugby tournament- the true story of how the most inspiring charm offensive in history brought South Africa together. After being released from prison and winning South Africa's first free election, Nelson Mandela presided over a country still deeply divided by fifty years of apartheid. His plan was ambitious if not far-fetched: use the national rugby team, the Springboks-long an embodiment of white-supremacist rule-to embody and engage a new South Africa as they prepared to host the 1995 World Cup. The string of wins that followed not only defied the odds, but capped Mandela's miraculous effort to bring South Africans together again in a hard-won, enduring bond.

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The African Origin of Civilization - Cheikh Anta Diop & Mercer Cook Cover Art

The African Origin of Civilization

The African Origin of Civilization Myth or Reality by Cheikh Anta Diop & Mercer Cook

Now in its 30th printing, this classic presents historical, archaeological, and anthropological evidence to support the theory that ancient Egypt was a black civilization.

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Black Reconstruction in America (The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois) - Henry Louis Gates, Jr. & W. E. B. Du Bois Cover Art

Black Reconstruction in America (The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois)

Black Reconstruction in America (The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois) An Essay Toward a History of the Part Which Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy in America, 1860-1880 by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. & W. E. B. Du Bois

W. E. B. Du Bois was a public intellectual, sociologist, and activist on behalf of the African American community. He profoundly shaped black political culture in the United States through his founding role in the NAACP, as well as internationally through the Pan-African movement. Du Bois's sociological and historical research on African-American communities and culture broke ground in many areas, including the history of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. Du Bois was also a prolific author of novels, autobiographical accounts, innumerable editorials and journalistic pieces, and several works of history. Black Reconstruction in America tells and interprets the story of the twenty years of Reconstruction from the point of view of newly liberated African Americans. Though lambasted by critics at the time of its publication in 1935, Black Reconstruction has only grown in historical and literary importance. In the 1960s it joined the canon of the most influential revisionist historical works. Its greatest achievement is weaving a credible, lyrical historical narrative of the hostile and politically fraught years of 1860-1880 with a powerful critical analysis of the harmful effects of democracy, including Jim Crow laws and other injustices. With a series introduction by editor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and an introduction by David Levering Lewis, this edition is essential for anyone interested in African American history.

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Into Africa - Thomas Sterling Cover Art

Into Africa

Into Africa by Thomas Sterling

When the explorer René Caillié returned to France from Africa in 1828, he published a sketch of the legendary city he had discovered - Timbuctoo. But neither that simple drawing nor his matter-of-fact description gave Caillié’s countrymen a sufficiently colorful picture to match their preconceptions of how Africa should look. They turned their backs on the young explorer, ignored his accomplishments, and let him die neglected. Here are the epic adventures of the European explorers who opened Africa – from Mongo Park and Vasco da Gama to Francis Burton and David Livingstone and Henry Stanley.

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Invictus - John Carlin Cover Art

Invictus

Invictus Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin

Read the book that inspired the Academy Award and Golden Globe winning  2009 film INVICTUS featuring Morgan Freeman and Matt Daymon, directed by Clint Eastwood. Beginning in a jail cell and ending in a rugby tournament—the true story of how the most inspiring charm offensive in history brought South Africa together. After being released from prison and winning South Africa’s first free election, Nelson Mandela presided over a country still deeply divided by fifty years of apartheid. His plan was ambitious if not far-fetched: use the national rugby team, the Springboks—long an embodiment of white-supremacist rule—to embody and engage a new South Africa as they prepared to host the 1995 World Cup. The string of wins that followed not only defied the odds, but capped Mandela’s miraculous effort to bring South Africans together again in a hard-won, enduring bond.

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Fall of Civilizations - Paul Cooper Cover Art

Fall of Civilizations

Fall of Civilizations Stories of Greatness and Decline by Paul Cooper

"A treasure trove of myths and terror… Atmospheric as hell… Immersive."―The Times Based on the podcast with over one hundred million downloads, Fall of Civilizations brilliantly explores how a range of ancient societies rose to power and sophistication, and how they tipped over into collapse. Across the centuries, we journey from the great empires of Mesopotamia to those of Khmer and Vijayanagara in Asia and Songhai in West Africa; from Byzantium to the Maya, Inca and Aztecs of Central America; from Roman Britain to Rapa Nui. With meticulous research, breathtaking insight and dazzling, empathic storytelling, historian and novelist Paul Cooper evokes the majesty and jeopardy of these ancient civilizations, and asks what it might have felt like for a person alive at the time to witness the end of their world.

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The Explorers - Martin Dugard Cover Art

The Explorers

The Explorers A Story of Fearless Outcasts, Blundering Geniuses, and Impossible Success by Martin Dugard

Learn to unlock your inner explorer in this riveting account of a great, forbidding adventure and “a fascinating examination of the seven key traits of history’s most famous explorers…[with] infusions of insight and enthusiasm” ( Publishers Weekly , starred review). In 1856, two intrepid adventurers, Richard Frances Burton and John Hanning Speke, set off to unravel a geographical unknown: the location of the Nile River’s source. They traveled deep into an uncharted African wilderness together, arrived at two different solutions to the mystery, and parted ways as sworn enemies. The feud became an international sensation on their return to England, and a public debate was scheduled to decide whose theory was correct. What followed was a massive spectacle with an outcome no one could have foreseen. In The Explorers , New York Times bestselling author Martin Dugard shares the rich saga of the Burton and Speke expedition and guides readers through the seven traits that history’s most legendary explorers called on to survive their impossible journeys. In doing so, Dugard demonstrates that these traits have a most practical application in everyday life. We see St. Brendan the Navigator, driven by hope, sail into the unknown, and the curiosity that inspired John Ledyard to attempt to walk around the globe, and the perseverance Howard Carter needed to discover Tutankhamen’s tomb. From these and other examples, Dugard extracts lessons for unlocking the explorer in us all.

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The Fall of the Ottomans - Eugene Rogan Cover Art

The Fall of the Ottomans

The Fall of the Ottomans The Great War in the Middle East by Eugene Rogan

An International Bestseller * An Economist Best Book of the Year The thrilling and definitive history of World War I in the Middle East. “A page-turner as well as an accurate and comprehensive history of the Ottoman struggle for survival…. Remarkable.” — Wall Street Journal By 1914 the powers of Europe were sliding inexorably toward war, and they pulled the Middle East along with them into one of the most destructive conflicts in human history. In The Fall of the Ottomans , award-winning historian Eugene Rogan brings the First World War and its immediate aftermath in the Middle East to vivid life, uncovering the often ignored story of the region's crucial role in the conflict. Unlike the static killing fields of the Western Front, the war in the Middle East was fast-moving and unpredictable, with the Turks inflicting decisive defeats on the Entente in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, and Gaza before the tide of battle turned in the Allies’ favor. The postwar settlement led to the partition of Ottoman lands, laying the groundwork for the ongoing conflicts that continue to plague the modern Arab world. A sweeping narrative of battles and political intrigue from Gallipoli to Arabia, The Fall of the Ottomans is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the Great War and the making of the modern Middle East.

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Born in Blackness - Howard W. French Cover Art

Born in Blackness

Born in Blackness Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War by Howard W. French

Revealing the central yet intentionally obliterated role of Africa in the creation of modernity, Born in Blackness vitally reframes our understanding of world history. Traditional accounts of the making of the modern world afford a place of primacy to European history. Some credit the fifteenth-century Age of Discovery and the maritime connection it established between West and East; others the accidental unearthing of the “New World.” Still others point to the development of the scientific method, or the spread of Judeo-Christian beliefs; and so on, ad infinitum. The history of Africa, by contrast, has long been relegated to the remote outskirts of our global story. What if, instead, we put Africa and Africans at the very center of our thinking about the origins of modernity? In a sweeping narrative spanning more than six centuries, Howard W. French does just that, for Born in Blackness vitally reframes the story of medieval and emerging Africa, demonstrating how the economic ascendancy of Europe, the anchoring of democracy in the West, and the fulfillment of so-called Enlightenment ideals all grew out of Europe’s dehumanizing engagement with the “dark” continent. In fact, French reveals, the first impetus for the Age of Discovery was not—as we are so often told, even today—Europe’s yearning for ties with Asia, but rather its centuries-old desire to forge a trade in gold with legendarily rich Black societies sequestered away in the heart of West Africa. Creating a historical narrative that begins with the commencement of commercial relations between Portugal and Africa in the fifteenth century and ends with the onset of World War II, Born in Blackness interweaves precise historical detail with poignant, personal reportage. In so doing, it dramatically retrieves the lives of major African historical figures, from the unimaginably rich medieval emperors who traded with the Near East and beyond, to the Kongo sovereigns who heroically battled seventeenth-century European powers, to the ex-slaves who liberated Haitians from bondage and profoundly altered the course of American history. While French cogently demonstrates the centrality of Africa to the rise of the modern world, Born in Blackness becomes, at the same time, a far more significant narrative, one that reveals a long-concealed history of trivialization and, more often, elision in depictions of African history throughout the last five hundred years. As French shows, the achievements of sovereign African nations and their now-far-flung peoples have time and again been etiolated and deliberately erased from modern history. As the West ascended, their stories—siloed and piecemeal—were swept into secluded corners, thus setting the stage for the hagiographic “rise of the West” theories that have endured to this day. “Capacious and compelling” (Laurent Dubois), Born in Blackness is epic history on the grand scale. In the lofty tradition of bold, revisionist narratives, it reframes the story of gold and tobacco, sugar and cotton—and of the greatest “commodity” of them all, the twelve million people who were brought in chains from Africa to the “New World,” whose reclaimed lives shed a harsh light on our present world.

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Black in Blues - Imani Perry Cover Art

Black in Blues

Black in Blues How a Color Tells the Story of My People by Imani Perry

A “vast, multifaceted and enchanting” (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) meditation on the color blue and its fascinating role in Black history and culture, from National Book Award winner Imani Perry, “the most important interpreter of Black life in our time” (Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.) Throughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another color: blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology. Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and history: The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon. Poignant, spellbinding, and utterly original, Black in Blues is a brilliant new work that could only have come from the mind of one of our greatest writers and thinkers. Attuned to the harrowing and the sublime aspects of the human experience, it is every bit as vivid, rich, and striking as blue itself.

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The Looting Machine - Tom Burgis Cover Art

The Looting Machine

The Looting Machine Warlords, Oligarchs, Corporations, Smugglers, and the Theft of Africa's Wealth by Tom Burgis

An “impressive” ( Wall Street Journal ) exposé of  twenty-first century individuals and companies who have become obscenely rich from the resource trade in Africa Africa is the world’s poorest continent and, arguably, its richest. In The Looting Machine , Tom Burgis takes readers on a gripping journey into the world of the magnates and militiamen, the despots and jet-setting executives who gorge on Africa’s vast stocks of oil, gas, metals, and precious stones. Combining deep reporting with an action-packed narrative, Burgis presents a blistering investigation of the plunder of a continent and the terrible human toll.

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A Savage War of Peace - Alistair Horne Cover Art

A Savage War of Peace

A Savage War of Peace Algeria 1954-1962 by Alistair Horne

This celebrated history of the Algerian War “captures a contingent moment in the conflict between the West and the Arab world”, reminding us that “modern history is not made by the ‘clash of civilizations’ but by people” ( Harper’s Magazine ).   “This universally acclaimed history . . . should have been mandatory reading for the civilian and military leaders who opted to invade Iraq.” — The Washington Times The Algerian War lasted from 1954 to 1962. It brought down six French governments, led to the collapse of the Fourth Republic, returned de Gaulle to power, and came close to provoking a civil war on French soil. More than a million Muslim Algerians died in the conflict and as many European settlers were driven into exile. Above all, the war was marked by an unholy marriage of revolutionary terror and repressive torture. Nearly a half century has passed since this savagely fought war ended in Algeria’s independence, and yet—as Alistair Horne argues in his new preface to his now-classic work of history—its repercussions continue to be felt not only in Algeria and France, but throughout the world. Indeed from today’s vantage point the Algerian War looks like a full-dress rehearsal for the sort of amorphous struggle that convulsed the Balkans in the 1990s and that now ravages the Middle East, from Beirut to Baghdad—struggles in which questions of religion, nationalism, imperialism, and terrorism take on a new and increasingly lethal intensity. A Savage War of Peace is the definitive history of the Algerian War, a book that brings that terrible and complicated struggle to life with intelligence, assurance, and unflagging momentum. It is essential reading for our own violent times as well as a lasting monument to the historian’s art.

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Imperial Reckoning - Caroline Elkins Cover Art

Imperial Reckoning

Imperial Reckoning The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya by Caroline Elkins

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction “Caroline Elkins has written an important book that can change our understanding not just of Africa but of ourselves. —Bill Berkeley, author of The Graves Are Not Yet Full: Race, Tribe and Power in the Heart of Africa A major work of history that for the first time reveals the violence and terror at the heart of Britain's civilizing mission in Kenya. As part of the Allied forces, thousands of Kenyans fought alongside the British in World War II. But just a few years after the defeat of Hitler, the British colonial government detained nearly the entire population of Kenya's largest ethnic minority, the Kikuyu—some one and a half million people. The compelling story of the system of prisons and work camps where thousands met their deaths has remained largely untold—the victim of a determined effort by the British to destroy all official records of their attempts to stop the Mau Mau uprising, the Kikuyu people's ultimately successful bid for Kenyan independence. Caroline Elkins, an assistant professor of history at Harvard University, spent a decade in London, Nairobi, and the Kenyan countryside interviewing hundreds of Kikuyu men and women who survived the British camps, as well as the British and African loyalists who detained them. The result is an unforgettable account of the unraveling of the British colonial empire in Kenya—a pivotal moment in twentieth-century history with chilling parallels to America's own imperial project.

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Too Close to the Sun - Sara Wheeler Cover Art

Too Close to the Sun

Too Close to the Sun The Audacious Life and Times of Denys Finch Hatton by Sara Wheeler

Denys Finch Hatton was adored by women and idolized by men. A champion of Africa, legendary for his good looks, his charm, and his prowess as a soldier, lover, and hunter, Finch Hatton inspired Karen Blixen to write the unforgettable stories in Out of Africa . Now esteemed British biographer Sara Wheeler tells the truth about this extraordinarily charismatic adventurer. Born to an old aristocratic family that had gambled away most of its fortune, Finch Hatton grew up in a world of effortless elegance and boundless power. Tall and graceful, with the soul of a poet and an athlete’s relaxed masculinity, he became a hero without trying at Eton and Oxford. In 1910, searching for novelty and danger, Finch Hatton arrived in British East Africa and fell in love–with a continent, with a landscape, with a way of life that was about to change forever. Wheeler brilliantly conjures the mystical beauty of Kenya at a time when teeming herds of wild animals roamed unmolested across pristine savannah. No one was more deeply attuned to this beauty than Finch Hatton–and no one more bitterly mourned its passing when the outbreak of World War I engulfed the region in a protracted, bloody guerrilla conflict. Finch Hatton was serving as a captain in the Allied forces when he met Karen Blixen in Nairobi and embarked on one of the great love affairs of the twentieth century. With delicacy and grace, Wheeler teases out truth from fiction in the liaison that Blixen herself immortalized in Out of Africa . Intellectual equals, bound by their love for the continent and their inimitable sense of style, Finch Hatton and Blixen were genuine pioneers in a land that was quickly being transformed by violence, greed, and bigotry. Ever restless, Finch Hatton wandered into a career as a big-game hunter and became an expert bush pilot; his passion that led to his affair with the notoriously unconventional aviatrix Beryl Markham. But Markham was no more able to hold him than Blixen had been. Mesmerized all his life by the allure of freedom and danger, Finch Hatton was, writes Wheeler, “the open road made flesh.” In painting a portrait of an irresistible man, Sara Wheeler has beautifully captured the heady glamour of the vanished paradise of colonial East Africa. In Too Close to the Sun she has crafted a book that is as ravishing as its subject.

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Between Man and Beast - Monte Reel Cover Art

Between Man and Beast

Between Man and Beast An Unlikely Explorer and the African Adventure the Victorian World by Storm by Monte Reel

In 1856, Paul Du Chaillu ventured into the African jungle in search of a mythic beast, the gorilla. After wild encounters with vicious cannibals, deadly snakes, and tribal kings, Du Chaillu emerged with 20 preserved gorilla skins—two of which were stuffed and brought on tour—and walked smack dab into the biggest scientific debate of the time: Darwin's theory of evolution. Quickly, Du Chaillu's trophies went from objects of wonder to key pieces in an all-out intellectual war. With a wide range of characters, including Abraham Lincoln, Arthur Conan Doyle, P.T Barnum, Thackeray, and of course, Charles Darwin, this is a one of a kind book about a singular moment in history.