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