Download Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. A classic novella on empire, madness, and moral decay. Available in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI formats.
Heart of Darkness Summary
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a profound critique of colonialism and the human psyche. Set during an expedition up the Congo River, it follows Marlow, a steamboat captain, who journeys into the African interior to retrieve the enigmatic Kurtz. The novella explores themes of power, madness, and the darkness within civilization itself.
Heart of Darkness Excerpt
Short Summary: A river journey becomes a descent into psychological and moral darkness. Conrad’s masterpiece interrogates the soul of empire—and of man.
"The conquest of the earth is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much."
Marlow, a seaman and narrator, recounts his mission to transport ivory and find the elusive trader Kurtz, a European who has gone rogue in the Congo. But what begins as a logistical expedition soon becomes an allegory of corruption, identity, and madness.
As Marlow ventures deeper into the jungle, he witnesses the brutality of colonial exploitation and the fragility of European ideals. Kurtz, once a symbol of progress, has become a demigod ruling over natives, his final words—“The horror! The horror!”—an unforgettable cry of despair and revelation.
Heart of Darkness is a central text of modern literature, studied for its psychological depth, narrative complexity, and unflinching critique of Western imperialism. Its influence spans literature, film, and postcolonial thought.
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