62 pages • 2 hours read
Joseph ConradHeart of Darkness
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1899A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad follows Marlow, a steamboat captain, who travels up the Congo River to find Kurtz, a revered yet controversial ivory trader. Marlow witnesses the brutality and corruption of European colonialism, the moral decay of individuals, and ultimately confronts the enigmatic and deteriorated Kurtz, whose legacy profoundly impacts him. Forced labor, violence, and racism are depicted.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad explores colonialism and human nature through a haunting journey into Africa. Praised for its profound psychological depth and complex narrative style, it also faces criticism for problematic racial portrayals. Overall, it's a deeply influential, yet controversial, literary work.
Who Should Read Heart of Darkness?
A reader who enjoys Heart of Darkness would appreciate complex narratives and themes of colonialism, and psychological introspection. They are likely fans of works rich in symbolism and moral ambiguity, such as Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart or F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This reader favors reflective and thought-provoking literature.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Classic Fiction
British Literature
Victorian Period
Colonialism / Postcolonialism
Society: Colonialism