Heroes of Empire: Five Charismatic Men and the Conquest of Africa - Tapa dura

"An utterly enthralling and elegantly-crafted work which grips from its arresting opening sentence." Journal Of African History "An extremely readable book comparing Henry Morton Stanley, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, Charles Gordon, Jean-Baptiste Marchand and Hubert Lyautey." -- Joanna Lewis Times Higher Education "A fascinating book." -- Raymond Jonas Journal Of Modern History "Recommended for students and scholars of African colonial history, as well as for those who like to read about adventurers in Africa." -- Jason Martin Library Journal "Berenson's writing style is easily accessible to all levels of study, making this a valuable addition for teaching and research." -- Rachel K. Bright Victorian Poetry

During the decades of empire (1870 -1914), legendary heroes and their astonishing deeds of conquest gave imperialism a recognizable human face. Henry Morton Stanley, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, Charles Gordon, Jean-Baptiste Marchand, and Hubert Lyautey all braved almost unimaginable dangers among 'savage' people for their nation's greater good. This vastly readable book, the first comparative history of colonial heroes in Britain and France, shows via unforgettable portraits the shift from public veneration of the peaceful conqueror to unbridled passion for the vanquishing hero. Edward Berenson argues that these five men transformed the imperial steeplechase of those years into a powerful 'heroic moment'. He breaks new ground by linking the era's 'new imperialism' to its 'new journalism' - the penny press - which furnished the public with larger-than-life figures who then embodied each nation's imperial hopes and anxieties.