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Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
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Heart of Darkness

by Joseph Conrad

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7,16677181 (3.66)268
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This book definitely put forth some very interesting notions, and Conrad clearly can deftly weave his words and create well-crafted sentences. But I found some parts... a lot of parts, something of a chore to read, and despite my careful reading, I still ended up with only a rough sketch of what I supposed it was about. Perhaps that's what's the charm, perhaps I have a limited understanding, I don't know. Perhaps I should pick this back up in a few years and see if it clicks for me then, but for the moment, I can't hold a very high opinion of this novella and can only thank Conrad for making it 100 pages. ( )
monapropertygirl | May 21, 2009 |  
Despite being a mere 100 pages long, parts of this book were as frustrating to slog through as the African jungle. Nevertheless, I'm glad I made it to through the wilderness to the palpable "horror" at the end. A book so deliciously overwrought with symbolism, I almost wish I had to write a paper on it. ( )
donutgirl | May 21, 2009 |  
"Mr Kurtz, he dead!" This novel is full of enticing and harrowing sentences like that. I found the novel dark and brutal, and Conrad's prose style led me along as if through the dense foliage of the Congo. Only when I finished the book did I start to wonder about everything that it said; whilst reading I was taken in by the mesmeric quality of some of the description. Reading 'Heart of Darkness' was not an enjoyable experience, but it was a disturbing one, which is something far rarer. ( )
Wubsy | May 15, 2009 |  
The copy I read had a fantastic introduction, and contained footnotes referring to Conrad's own trip to the Congo, showing how much of this is autobiographical. I would recommend this version to anyone who, like me, read it own a whim with no real knowledge of how influential this writing was at the time.

In fact, my fictional reading of this subject is quite expansive, but my factual knowledge is poor. Reading this copy enabled me to be whisked away on a story and yet pad out my limited knowledge.

Marlowe is a sympathetic character, born of his time and yet forward-thinking, as is, I guess, Conrad. The images of unexplored Africa as a blank area on maps is exciting, and goes some way to explaining the intrepidation and fear that led these very male explorers to give the impressions that they did of such a peaceful, country.

Highly recommended. ( )
sarah_rubyred | Apr 3, 2009 | 2 vote
Battle between civilized and uncivilized man. Didn't like it. ( )
FMRox | Mar 22, 2009 |  
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Dedication
First words
The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest.
In the entire annals of the writing of books, one of the most unlikely careers is that of Joseph Conrad. (Publisher's Preface - The Easton Press)
The journey described by Marlow in Heart of Darkness parallels Conrad's own trip to the Congo in 1890. (An Introduction by Leo Gurko)
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Other stories include:
"Youth"
"Karain"
"An Outpost of Progress"

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