*The Crime of the Congo* by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1909, is a powerful exposé of the brutal atrocities committed in the Congo Free State under the rule of King Leopold II of Belgium. Doyle meticulously gathers evidence from consular reports, missionary accounts, and personal testimonies to present a detailed and shocking narrative of exploitation, forced labor, and systematic violence inflicted upon the Congolese people.

The Congo Free State, which was privately owned by King Leopold II from 1885 to 1908, was presented to the international community as a humanitarian project aimed at improving the lives of the native population through trade and civilization. In reality, it became a site of horrific human rights violations, where the extraction of ivory and rubber was fueled by forced labor, mutilation, and massacres. Doyle argues that the regime's motives were purely commercial, with the profits from rubber and ivory financing the Belgian king's personal wealth and European grandeur.

The book details how the Congolese population was subjected to inhumane treatment: men were forced to meet impossible rubber quotas under threat of mutilation and death; women and children were held hostage to ensure compliance; and those who resisted were killed or dismembered. Doyle vividly describes the severing of hands as a routine punishment and a method for soldiers to prove they had killed their targets.

Despite mounting international condemnation, Leopold's regime maintained a façade of benevolence. Doyle's work was instrumental in raising public awareness and strengthening the global outcry that ultimately led to the Belgian government assuming control of the Congo in 1908, ending Leopold’s private rule. However, the legacy of exploitation and suffering continued long after.

*The Crime of the Congo* remains a landmark historical account of colonial exploitation and human rights abuses. Doyle’s clear and passionate call for justice reflects his deep moral conviction and his commitment to uncovering the truth behind one of the darkest chapters of modern history.