num_pages: 110
description: In a novella which remains highly controversial to this day, Conrad explores the relations between Africa and Europe. On the surface, this is a horrifying tale of colonial exploitation. The narrator, Marlowe, journeys on business deep into the heart of Africa. But there he encounters Kurtz, an idealist apparently crazed and depraved by his power over the natives, and the meeting prompts Marlowe to reflect on the darkness at the heart of all men. This short but complex and often ambiguous story, which has been the basis of several films and plays, continues to provoke interpretation and discussion.
language: English
title: Heart of Darkness
titlecomplete: Heart of Darkness
characters: Kurtz, Charles Marlow
genres: Classics, Adventure, Novels, Read For School, High School, Africa, School, Historical Fiction, Literature, Fiction
ratings_count: 497550
places: Brussels, Congo Free State, Belgium, Africa, Belgian Congo
publisher: Everyman's Library