Review: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

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Heart of Darkness is a short novel by Joseph Conrad. In facts it is so short you could finish reading it in just a few hours. But dont take the shortness for simplicity. This is a real meaningful novel that describes the European colonization and exploitation of Africa in late 19th century.

[charlesearle]

My father once described this book as "the longest short book ever written"

[TomPark]

So short you could read it in a few hours....without absorbing anything and missing a bunch of symbolism etc

[Ed-zzrd]

Conrad and HG Wells were friends at the time in England .Well's novel "War of the Worlds" was based on the British expansion in Africa using modern weaponry at the time against primitive ones of the natives eventually being defeated by the malaria carrying mosquito much the same way as the space alien invaders of the novel were unbeatable until succumbing to an earth born disease.

[JozefLucifugeKorzeniowski]

apocalypse now is a synthesis of 2 books; heart of darkness and dispatches by michael herr. dispatches is michael herr's account of vietnam as an embedded reporter. heart of darkness guides the broad strokes and themes of apocalypse now but specific events, the setting, and the dialog come from dispatches. michael herr also worked on the screenplay for apocalypse now, he wrote all of martin Sheen's internal monologue. both herr and joseph conrad have a brilliant and unique prose to their writing. heart of darkness and dispatches are both fantastic books.

i only learned about dispatches when a family friend, who is a vietnam vet, recommended it to me as the only book that "got it right".

[JAMAICADOCK]

Heart of Darkness is one of those books that you can read again and again and keep discovering new insights. The juxtapositions between black Africa and white Europe, savagery and gentility, the Thames and the Congo - all suggesting the true heart of darkness lurks within Europe rather than Africa.

[ilirllukaci]

No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one’s existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning--its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream--alone.

Joseph Conrad,  Heart of Darkness

[commandersheepherd]

What about Chinua Achebe's perspective? There are countless articles that discuss what framework is necessary to fully understand this novel.

[TheCanuckdian]

Spectacular review! I will definitely read this one. The fact that it's so short works well for today's time starved people. It's as though Peter wrote it for us.

[Moonlitwatersofaqua]

I cant read this book in a couple of hours. However I do have a low reading speed..

[wbiro]

Very poetic book in places, in spite of the dark theme. Examples: "The rapids were near, and an uninterrupted, uniform, headlong, rushing noise filled the mournful stillness of the grove, where not a breath stirred, not a leaf moved, with a mysterious sound—as though the tearing pace of the launched earth had suddenly become audible..." and, " splayed feet arrived and departed; a stream of manufactured goods - rubbishy cottons, beads, and brass-wire set into the depths of darkness, and in return came a precious trickle of ivory."

[enjoyer_stoic]

“We could not understand because we were too far and could not remember, because we were traveling in the night of first ages, of those ages that are gone, leaving hardly a sign–and no memories. [The earth seemed unearthly.] We are accustomed to look upon the shackled form of a conquered monster, but there-there you could look at a thing monstrous and free” (Conrad 32).*

Mr. Hayes in King Kong talks about this to Jimmy while they are on the ss venture boat, good literature reference in this movie.

[jackiekobak]

I have never been so bored reading a book in my life. I tried to read this book on my own without any explanation and I just don't understand. This book was written over 100 years ago and I can not figure out why it is still popular. I am going to have to get a reading guide to help me understand this book. Sorry at this point I can not recommend this book.

[rupamsarma]

One of the best analytical videos that I have found with respect to HOD.

I am an English hons. student from India!!

[richardable]

Have any of you played Spec Ops The Line? It was inspired by Heart of Darkness too.

[rofkr]

Wow as soon as you started describing the plot i kept thinking that sounds a lot like Apocalypse Now i will definitely check out the book thanks

[Normalius]

This novel seems like a justification for the crimes that have been and will be commited around the world by the west.. "Give a man power and you will reveal his true character" - Abraham Lincoln

[zedhakim]

One of the better novels that I have ever read and taught. I just love it.

[davebaker]

You are looking at this through 21st century eyes. Conrad had a different perspective. Try to think through his life experiences.

[MargauxMachek]

Cox Sagol Shirvan! I hope to hear more Caspian Reports in the Future!

[largelysubatomic]

I read this in high school along with millions of other young Americans.