Congo Free State
Joseph Conrad’s novel "Heart of Darkness", originally published in 1899 as a three-part series in "Blackwood's Magazine", inspired by his service as a captain on a steamer on the Congo 12 years before, sparked an organized international opposition to Leopold's exploitational activities. In 1900, Edmund Dene Morel, a part-time journalist and head of trade with Congo for the Liverpool shipping firm Elder Dempster, noticed that ships that brought vast loads of rubber from the Congo only ever returned there loaded with guns and ammunition for the "Force Publique". Morel became a journalist and then a publisher, attempting to discredit Leopold's regime. In 1902, Morel retired from his position at Elder Dempster to focus on campaigning. He founded his own magazine, "The West African Mail", and conducted speaking tours in Britain.
Travis Hunter
A native of Florence, South Carolina, Travis Hunter is the author of seven novels of urban fiction. As an author, songwriter, motivational speaker and father, Travis self-published his first novel, The Hearts of Men, in 2000 through his own company, Jimrose Publishing House. After shopping that book during the 2000 Book Expo America in Chicago, Hunter received an offer from Random House, Inc. The Hearts of Men was re-released through their Strivers Row/Villard division in May 2001. Since then, Hunter has received great success with six more novels; Married But Still Looking, Trouble Man, A One Woman Man, Something to Die For, A Family Sin and his latest release, Dark Child.