China's second continent: how a million migrants are building a new empire in Africa

Description

An exciting, hugely revealing account of China's burgeoning presence in Africa--a developing empire already shaping, and reshaping, the future of millions of people. A prizewinning foreign correspondent and former New York Times bureau chief in Shanghai and in West and Central Africa, Howard French is uniquely positioned to tell the story of China in Africa. Through meticulous on-the-ground reporting--conducted in Mandarin, French, and Portuguese, among other languages--French crafts a layered investigation of astonishing depth and breadth as he engages not only with policy-shaping moguls and diplomats, but also with the ordinary men and women navigating the street-level realities of cooperation, prejudice, corruption, and opportunity forged by this seismic geopolitical development. With incisiveness and empathy, French reveals the human face of China's economic, political, and human presence across the African continent--and in doing so reveals... Part One : Manifest destiny Mozambique Behold the future Friendly gestures Part Two : The devil and the deep blue sea Liberia : small fates Conakry : late to the banquet Freetown : instruments of magic Why Mali? Ghana : habits of democracy Part Three : Happy family Saints of the household Fat of the land