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Heart of Darkness

By Joseph Conrad
Series: The Norton Library
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad follows the journey of Marlow, a sailor, who travels deep into the African Congo to find the enigmatic Mr. Kurtz. Set primarily on a steamboat, the story examines themes of colonialism, human nature, and the darkness within. It’s a profound narrative about exploration, both external and internal, as Marlow confronts the moral ambiguities of imperialism.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by classic tales of exploration and adventure that delve into the complexities of human nature and morality. Its gripping narrative takes you on a journey into the depths of the African Congo, exploring themes of colonialism and the darkness within civilisation. This book may appeal to readers who appreciate profound symbolism and rich, evocative prose.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A haunting critique of European colonialism in Africa, Heart of Darkness recounts Charles Marlow's perilous expedition up the Congo River in search of Mr. Kurtz, the powerful and enigmatic commander of a Belgian ivory trading post.

As Marlow draws closer to and finally reaches the target of his obsession, admiration turns to horror at the colonisers' atrocities laid bare before him.

Its famously cryptic narrative structure, richly layered with symbolic undertones, evokes a hazy, menacing atmosphere that has sparked countless reinterpretations and adaptations to this day.

Series: The Norton Library

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is often praised for its complex exploration of imperialism and the darkness in human nature. Critics frequently commend its vivid and haunting narrative, as well as the symbolic journey up the Congo River. However, some readers find the novel's dense prose challenging and its portrayal of Africa and its people problematic. Overall, it's regarded as a powerful and thought-provoking literary classic.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780393544084

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 March 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Contributors:

  • Edited by Pericles Lewis

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 109g

Pages: 144

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Joseph Conrad Literary Fiction Series: The Norton Library

About the Author

JOSEPH CONRAD was born in Polish Ukraine on December 3, 1857, with the name Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski. Orphaned at the age of eleven, Conrad spent the remainder of his youth in Switzerland and Cracow before joining the French marines. In 1878, he enlisted in the British Merchant Navy. Following sixteen years of service, Conrad launched his literary career in England. He published many novels and stories, including Lord Jim (1900), Nostromo (1904), and most famously, The Heart of Darkness (1899), inspired by his steamboat voyage on the Congo River. Although English was his third language (after Polish and French), Conrad’s rich and distinctive prose established him as one of England’s greatest novelists. Conrad died on August 3, 1924, in Kent, England. Pericles Lewis is Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of Comparative Literature and Dean of Yale College at Yale University. The author or editor of six books on modern literature, he has most recently served as editor for literature since 1900 of the Norton Anthology of World Literature. He also served as founding President of Yale-NUS College (now NUS College) a joint venture between Yale and the National University of Singapore.

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