background information for the poisonwood bible. written 12 books prodigal summer, the bean trees,...
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Background Information for The Poisonwood Bible
Written 12 Books Prodigal Summer, The Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven, Animal
Dreams, shorts stories, poetry and nonfiction. The Poisonwood Bible
Best seller lists , finalist for the Pulitzer and PEN/Faulkner awards, Oprah's Book Club selection.
2000, Kingsolver was awarded the National Humanities Medal given for service via the arts.
Bachelor’s degree in biology/ecology. Became a feature writer of scientific topics for a variety of
newspapers and journals Kingsolver’s father was a physician who practiced in the Congo
for short time in 1963. Uses writing a "form of political activism”, although she
insists her stories are “purely fiction”
Pygmies Late 1800’s – H.M.
Stanley’s exploration King Leopold II of Belgium
became interested Leopold authorized
Stanley to establish posts along
the upper Congo River to negotiate with tribal
rulers By 1884, Leopold
declared a right to govern the entire territory
Renamed "The Congo Free State," and Leopold was king
Controlled interior Directed mining activities
diamonds, cobalt, etc. Abused natives
forced labor, whippings, hostage taking, mutilation, etc.
Leopold enraged Europe. 1908, Leopold turned the Congo over to the Belgian government.
Renamed "Belgian Congo"
It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery...The rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were dead...-Belgian Official
“A rich nation of poor people”
Natural resourcesDiamondsCobaltCopperZincRubber IvoryFish
1957 – First opportunity to vote June 30, 1960, Belgium granted independence to the
Congo and installed Patrice Lumumba as prime minister. Violence followed UN helped restore order Threatened to call Russia, accused of being a communist. Lumumba arrested and murdered; symbol of African
Nationalism
European immigrants, missionaries, etc. fled the country as rumors abounded of the killings of white people.
Lumumba became a symbol of African nationalism. Volatile leadership, quick change of hands Mobutu was the eventual dictator
Ruled 1965-1997. Supported by U.S. as
Cold War ally. Traditional name
changes – Leopoldville to Kinshasa; Congo to Zaire.
Left “a house that had been eaten by termites” -NYTimes.
Reign described as “African Tragedy.”
Kingsolver later learned what had been going on in the Congo at the time of her stay there during the early 1960's.
US secretly sabotaged the Congo's shot at independence
Installed dictator Joseph Mobutu in Lumumba's place Fears of communism, maintain control of resources
Kingsolver’s outrage
30 years later, Kingsolver felt prepared, emotionally and professionally, to write PB.
5000
MILES
4 6 0 0 M I L E S
Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi.
10% of the world’s population.
2 ½ times the size of the U. S.
Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft.
Rapid decomposition (very humid).
15% of the land surface of Africa.
• Covers 12% of thecontinent.
• Extends over 9countries.
• 2,720 miles long.
• 99% of the countryof Zaire is in theCongo River basin.
Right: OkapiBottom Right: Green Mamba SnakeBottom Left: Flesh-eating Driver Ants
Patriarchal
Tribal – village
chiefs
Superstitious
Market place
Famine
Mutual Respect with
Nature
War-plagued1st, 2nd Congo Wars
Open to western influencesCity life vs. rural life
Struggle to prosper and thrive independently
Culture thrives