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Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer (1899)

by Joseph Conrad

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
4,619412,435 (3.72)45
Heart Of Darkness. The story of the civilized, enlightened Mr. Kurtz who embarks on a harrowing "night journey" into the savage heart of Africa, only to find his dark and evil soul. The Secret Sharer. The saga of a young, inexperienced skipper forced to decide the fate of a fugitive sailor who killed a man in self-defense. As he faces his first moral test the skipper discovers a terrifying truth -- and comes face to face with the secret itself. Heart Of Darkness and The Secret Sharer draw on actual events and people that Conrad met or heard about during his many far-flung travels. In portraying men whose incredible journeys on land and at sea are also symbolic voyages into their own mysterious depths, these two masterful works give credence to Conrad's acclaim as a major psychological writer.… (more)
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» See also 45 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 41 (next | show all)
Good sea and adventure stories. ( )
  kslade | Dec 8, 2022 |
It's been quite a while since I've read this book. Upon reading it again, I realize my memories of its events were somewhat inaccurate so it was nice to approach it with older eyes. What strikes me most this time around, moreso than when I read it the first time (which was more about contemplating Kurtz's evil) is the stark racism, which isn't necessarily surprising given the time and culture in which it was written, but unnerving all the same. The book went faster this time around, and the evil didn't seem quite so breath-taking as it once did. While I used to find Marlow's long-awaited encounter with Kurtz the best part of the story
(and it still is pretty tense), I now find Marlow's final encounter with the "Intended" the most fascinating--that roiling anger of humoring someone when you consider to be sole the possessor of "true" knowledge. Good stuff. (PS--I acutally haven't read The Secret Sharer yet...bad English major!!) ( )
  LibroLindsay | Jun 18, 2021 |
I found a copy of this book in a bathroom on the Josh C Stennis while deployed on a westpac in 2004 and I can say that it is a higher grade of reading material then you typically find in places like that - this book absolutely stunned me because of the language. There is no a single word that isn't perfectly placed. In 12 words Conrad says as much as i could in a page. And as I understand it the dude only learned English late in life and produced this masterpiece? I had never read writing like this before - somehow perfect technical efficiency and also an evocative poem simultaneously. The themes of this book are my absolute favorites - madness, desperation, and faith. For a long time I called this my favorite book. ( )
  Giganticon | Dec 12, 2020 |
This book is on so many "must-read" lists that I thought perhaps there was something wrong when I really didn't like the book. Then, I learned that my book club unanimously hated it. Yes, there is some value to reading the book, but don't start unless you are ready for a slog. ( )
  ckadams5 | Jun 19, 2019 |
This book is on so many "must-read" lists that I thought perhaps there was something wrong when I really didn't like the book. Then, I learned that my book club unanimously hated it. Yes, there is some value to reading the book, but don't start unless you are ready for a slog. ( )
  ckadams5 | Jun 19, 2019 |
Showing 1-5 of 41 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (5 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Conrad, Josephprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Guerard, Albert J.Introductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Walker, FranklinIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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On my right hand there were lines of fishing stakes resembling a mysterious system of half-submerged bamboo fences, incomprehensible in its division of the domain of tropical fishes, and crazy of aspect as if abandoned forever by some nomad tribe of fishermen now gone to the other end of the ocean; for there was no sign of human habitation as far as the eye could reach.
The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails and was at rest.
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Heart Of Darkness. The story of the civilized, enlightened Mr. Kurtz who embarks on a harrowing "night journey" into the savage heart of Africa, only to find his dark and evil soul. The Secret Sharer. The saga of a young, inexperienced skipper forced to decide the fate of a fugitive sailor who killed a man in self-defense. As he faces his first moral test the skipper discovers a terrifying truth -- and comes face to face with the secret itself. Heart Of Darkness and The Secret Sharer draw on actual events and people that Conrad met or heard about during his many far-flung travels. In portraying men whose incredible journeys on land and at sea are also symbolic voyages into their own mysterious depths, these two masterful works give credence to Conrad's acclaim as a major psychological writer.

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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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