A Continent for the Taking: The Tragedy and Hope of Africa

Africa first captivated New York Times journalist Howard W. French more than twenty-five years ago, but his knowledge of and passion for the continent has the depth of a lifetime association. His experiences there awakened him as nothing before to the selfishness and shortsightedness of the rich, the suffering and dignity of the poor and the uses and abuses of power. And in this powerfully written, profoundly felt book, he gives us an unstinting account of the disastrous consequences of the fateful, centuries-old encounter between Africa and the West. French delineates the betrayal and greed of the West - often aided and abetted by Africa’s own leaders - that have given rise to the increasing exploitation of Africa’s natural resources and its human beings.