Released: 1902 (As a book)
Number of Pages: 96 (Plus an extra 13 for the author's "Congo Diary")
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a major piece of written history; released at a time when imperialistic ventures were common place, it still resonates decades after its release.
Taking place at the height of the British Empire’s power, Heart of Darkness follows Marlowe, a freshwater sailor who journeys to Africa in search of a widely respected and highly lucrative ivory trader named Kurtz. The novella plays out in recount form, with the protagonist relaying to his fellow compatriots the experience up the winding rivers of the Congo; we read his observations, feelings and comments on the situation; as his near-obsessive fascination with Kurtz builds, the novel builds intrigue with it. This feeling of wanting to meet the man is instilled in the reader and of course when it finally happens, without spoiling anything, the result is not what Marlowe expects.
The central theme of the story, imperialism, hangs over everything the protagonist witnesses, from the beating of the black men tending to the British ports to the often-savage tribalism that persists the further up the river he goes. The greatest irony is that even with all its power, riches and ruthlessness, there are places on Earth that even the largest empires cannot control. It’s this discovery that changes Marlowe’s perspective to one of critical scepticism; from the opening, you can tell his mindset differs drastically from his peers, perhaps mirroring Conrad’s own experiences in the region. The version I bought from Penguin Classics includes a “Congo Diary”, briefly detailing the author treading similar steps to the character in the book.
Where Heart of Darkness runs into trouble is the way it’s written; Marlowe’s journey, seen through the eyes of three or four anonymous individuals at once requests a fair amount of mental finesse to keep track of the varying viewpoints. It’s also very controversial when you look at it over a century after its release; the book is a product of a time in which British Imperialism brutally oppressed much of the African continent and other countries around the globe. This is shown through the dehumanisation of the natives and Marlowe’s comparative position; the language used is often aloof, looking down upon the subjugated masses. Outside of this, Conrad describes both events and inner thoughts in an extended and vivid manner.
Recommended?
MAYBE: Even with all its updates and revisions, Heart of Darkness isn’t always an easy read, its older language requiring a greater amount of attention from any reader. With that said, it’s an incredibly important book in that it directly questions the domination of the western world at the time and denting the illusion that empires were invincible. If you’re a serious reader, make some space on your shelf for this one. If not, it may be difficult to get into.
The best-known adaptation of Heart of Darkness is Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now; released in 1979, the film transplanted the book’s setting to the Vietnam War to gargantuan critical and commercial success. While it doesn’t follow the book from beginning to end, it does a superb job of adapting it. Of course, I highly recommend the film, though other influences of the book can be found in the 2012 video game Spec Ops: The Line.