Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Heart of Darkness is a novella by Joseph Conrad, first published in 1899. It tells the story of Marlow, an Englishman who travels up the Congo River in search of the mysterious Mr. Kurtz, a European trader who has become a powerful figure in the African interior. Along the way, Marlow encounters the dark realities of colonialism and the human capacity for evil. He eventually discovers Kurtz, who has become a god-like figure among the natives, and is forced to confront his own inner darkness. The novella is a powerful exploration of the human psyche and the effects of imperialism.
By Joseph Conrad · First published 1899 · Genre: Adventure Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction · 3 chapters · 38,763 words
First lines
The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest. The flood had made, the wind was nearly calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for it was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide.
What this Textopian page supports
Heart of Darkness is listed on Textopian as a novel by Joseph Conrad, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Joseph Conrad
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romanticism, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 38,763 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 283 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Heart of Darkness?
- How does this novel by Joseph Conrad fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
- Prester John by John Buchan
- The Invisible Man A Grotesque Romance by H. G. Wells
- You Cant Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe
- The Courtship Of Morrice Buckler by A. E. W. Mason
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Genres
- Adventure Fiction — The novel follows protagonist Charles Marlow as he travels up the Congo River in search of the mysterious Kurtz, and is filled with thrilling and suspenseful moments.
- Psychological Fiction — The novel explores the psychological effects of colonialism and imperialism, and delves into the inner workings of the human mind.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the late 19th century and is based on Conrad's own experiences in the Congo Free State.
- Romanticism — The novel contains elements of Romanticism, such as a focus on the sublime and the exploration of the human psyche.
Tags
Africa · Best Books Ever Listings · Degeneration · Europeans · Fiction · Imperialism · Movie Books · Novella · Psychological fiction · Trading posts · air · bank