The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence - Martin Meredith

Africa is rarely out of the news these days. Whether it's the continuing misery in Darfur, the seemingly-endless downward-spiral of Zimbabwe or perhaps the occasional horror story seeping out from the Congo, that unfortunate continent regularly forces its way into our western collective-conscience. But it doesn't sink too deeply. Most of us only recognise these names because we happened to notice them in the news, and as the stories are almost always depressing we usually shake our heads sympathetically then quickly forget, content to empathise briefly and from a safe distance. When the hyperactive spotlight of 24-hour news drifts further east or west our attention ...