In the heart of Africa's darkness, Michela Wrong unravels the enigmatic tale of Mobutu Sese Seko, the flamboyant tyrant of Zaire, whose rule is a mosaic of contradiction, seduction, and terror. "In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz" delves deep into the labyrinthine corridors of power, where Mobutu, christened "the Leopard," reigned supreme for over three decades. With a narrative as captivating as the leopard's elusive nature, Wrong escorts us through the opulent excesses and stark tragedies of Mobutu's kingdom, a realm where the echoes of Conrad's madness reverberate amidst the clinking of champagne glasses in lavish palaces, set against the backdrop of a nation's desolation. Wrong's chronicle, informed by her keen observations as a correspondent present during the twilight of Mobutu's regime, is not just the story of a man but a poignant commentary on the postcolonial complexities of Africa. It is a narrative rich in irony and tragedy, charting the ascent of an idealistic journalist to the epitome of African despotism. Through the prism of Mobutu's Congo, she exposes the intricate web of complicity woven by Western powers, the insidious legacy of colonial exploitation, and the indomitable spirit of a people undeterred by the absurdity of their reality. "In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz" stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit amidst the ruins of a plundered nation, offering a profound examination of the shadows that loom over the heart of Africa.