Product Description

"Heart of Darkness" has been considered for most of this century as a literary classic, and also as a powerful indictment of the evils of imperialism. It reflects the savage repressions carried out in the Congo by the Belgians in one of the largest acts of genocide committed up to that time. Conrad's narrator encounters at the end of the story a man named Kurtz, dying, insane, and guilty of unspeakable atrocities. First appearing as a three-part series in "Blackwood's Magazine" in 1899, it was soon after published as a novella, in 1902 in the volume "Youth: A Narrative"; and "Two Other Stories".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1479 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Synopsis
"Heart of Darkness" has been considered for most of this century as a literary classic, and also as a powerful indictment of the evils of imperialism. It reflects the savage repressions carried out in the Congo by the Belgians in one of the largest acts of genocide committed up to that time. Conrad's narrator encounters at the end of the story a man named Kurtz, dying, insane, and guilty of unspeakable atrocities. First appearing as a three-part series in "Blackwood's Magazine" in 1899, it was soon after published as a novella, in 1902 in the volume "Youth: A Narrative"; and "Two Other Stories".

About the Author
Joseph Conrad was born in the Ukraine in 1857 and grew up under Tsarist autocracy. In 1874 Conrad travelled to Marseilles, where he served in French merchant vessels before joining a British ship in 1878 as an apprentice. In 1886 he obtained British nationality. Eight years later he left the sea to devote himself to writing, publishing his first novel, Almayer's Folly, in 1895. The following year he settled in Kent, where he produced within fifteen years such modern classics as Youth, Heart of Darkness, Lord Jim, Typhoon, Nostromo, The Secret Agent and Under Western Eyes. He continued to write until his death in 1924.

Customer Reviews

An unpleasant read
I found this a rather disappointing read, especially after all the favourable reviews and publicity surrounding the book. I found it wanting for a plot, and the writing style rather off-putting. I gained absolutely no pleasure from reading this book, and I certainly won't recommend it to anyone.

one of the greatest masterpieces of literature
an illuminating, profound, tragic trip at the heart of human nature. it is a book to be read and pondered. it is not easy reading (though it can grip your attention from beginning to end and you can read it a single afternoon) but it is highly rewarding reading.

Dull and undeserving of its high reputation
I found this very dull all through and, despite its high literary reputation, it did not evoke any chords in me. Of course, by modern standards, some of the language is racist, but I am used to this from writers like Haggard and am well able to see this in its historical context.