King Leopold's Soliloquy
Encyclopedia
"King Leopold's Soliloquy" is a 1905 pamphlet
by Mark Twain
. Its subject is King Leopold
's rule over the Congo Free State
. A work of political
satire
harshly condemnatory of his actions, it ostensibly recounts Leopold speaking in his own defense.
King Leopold raves madly about the good things that he says he has done for the people of the Congo Free State
, including the disbursement of millions on religion
and art. He says he had come to Congo with piety
"oozing" from "every pore," that he had only wanted to convert the people to Christianity
, that he had wanted to stop the slave
trade.
Leopold says that he did not take any of the government money, that he did not use the revenue
s as his personal "swag", and that such claims by the "meddlesome American missionaries", "frank British consuls", and "blabbing Belgian-born traitors" are wholly false. He asserts that for a King to be criticized as he has been is blasphemy
— surely, under the rule of God
, any King who was not doing God's will would not have been helped by God.
Leopold claims that his critics only speak of what is unfavorable to him, such as the unfair tax
es that he levied upon the people of the Congo, which caused starvation
and the extermination of entire villages, but not of the fact that he had sent missionaries to the villages to convert them to Christianity
. Nothing, he complains, can satisfy the English.
Although in the next decades published almost all over the world, in German-speaking Central Europe it was published not before the 1960s and only in East Germany. US-allied Western Germany
, Austria and Switzerland never did. The First East German edition was a translation by Stefan Heym
in 1961. In 1967 and 1979 two editions followed, translated by Ana Maria Brock and commented by Karl-Heinz Schönfelder
.
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
by Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
. Its subject is King Leopold
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
's rule over the Congo Free State
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
. A work of political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
harshly condemnatory of his actions, it ostensibly recounts Leopold speaking in his own defense.
King Leopold raves madly about the good things that he says he has done for the people of the Congo Free State
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
, including the disbursement of millions on religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and art. He says he had come to Congo with piety
Piety
In spiritual terminology, piety is a virtue that can mean religious devotion, spirituality, or a combination of both. A common element in most conceptions of piety is humility.- Etymology :...
"oozing" from "every pore," that he had only wanted to convert the people to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, that he had wanted to stop the slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
trade.
Leopold says that he did not take any of the government money, that he did not use the revenue
Revenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
s as his personal "swag", and that such claims by the "meddlesome American missionaries", "frank British consuls", and "blabbing Belgian-born traitors" are wholly false. He asserts that for a King to be criticized as he has been is blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
— surely, under the rule of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, any King who was not doing God's will would not have been helped by God.
Leopold claims that his critics only speak of what is unfavorable to him, such as the unfair tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es that he levied upon the people of the Congo, which caused starvation
Starvation
Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient and vitamin intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death...
and the extermination of entire villages, but not of the fact that he had sent missionaries to the villages to convert them to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Nothing, he complains, can satisfy the English.
Although in the next decades published almost all over the world, in German-speaking Central Europe it was published not before the 1960s and only in East Germany. US-allied Western Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria and Switzerland never did. The First East German edition was a translation by Stefan Heym
Stefan Heym
Helmut Flieg was a German-Jewish writer, known by his pseudonym Stefan Heym. He lived in the United States between 1935 and 1952, before moving back to the part of his native Germany which was, from 1949–1990, German Democratic Republic...
in 1961. In 1967 and 1979 two editions followed, translated by Ana Maria Brock and commented by Karl-Heinz Schönfelder
Karl-Heinz Schönfelder
Karl-Heinz Schönfelder is a German historian of modern literature and the founder of American studies at the University of Leipzig.-Biography:...
.