Heart of Darkness and the Secret Sharer

by Joseph Conrad

A masterpiece of twentieth-century writing, Heart of Darkness (1902) exposes the tenuous fabric that holds "civilization" together and the brutal horror at the center of European colonialism. Conrad's crowning achievement recounts Marlow's physical and psychological journey deep into the heart of the Belgian Congo in search of the mysterious trader Kurtz.
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Top tags: fictionclassiccolonialismafricaliterature (all tags)

 

Member Reviews

  • Sam
    • Rated 1 stars

    I've had to read this book so many times for various english classes that the very sight of it makes me cringe. But the first time I read it I was neutral to it, I didn't like it but I didn't hate it as well. I'd recommend reading this book only if you're a die hard apocolypse now fan, but otherwise I'd stay clear.

    Sam wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Debra T
    • Rated 3 stars

    Read for book discussion group. It was so confusing that I had to read it through a second time.

    Debra T wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Basma B
    • Rated 5 stars

    Heart of Darkness is a must read. The novel not only takes you to the heart of Africa; it takes you to the darkest place on earth which is the human heart. Marlow, the narrator meets Kurtz, supposedly the epitome of culture and civilization and with Kurtz he sees "the horror" of humanity when left "unchecked".

    Basma B wrote this review Sunday, July 20 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Leslie Williamson
    • Rated 5 stars

    There is something about this that I cannot get away from. The ending imagery is forever stuck in my mind. Every time I am out on the water surrounded by vegetation, I think about Marlow. I think about myself.

    Leslie Williamson wrote this review Saturday, June 28 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Kathryn L
    • Rated 0 stars

    I don't remember this book at all, I just know that I've read it. :)

    Kathryn L wrote this review Friday, June 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Kevin J
    • Rated 0 stars

    Has anyone ever read the secret sharer? I know i didn't :\

    HOD is your traditional story of "Man A's journer upriver in an unfamiliar world to find Man B. Man B has adopted the ways, respect and worship of the people of the unfamiliar world, and therefore is dubbed crazy by everyone in the 'civilized' world."

    I found it fairly boring and straightforward.

    Kevin J wrote this review Wednesday, June 18 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Mr. V
    • Rated 2 stars

    Don't get me wrong: the themes are powerful. But the writing is - well, there's just no way around it - DRY. Still, makes a fine companion with Coppola's Apocalypse Now.

    Mr. V wrote this review Wednesday, June 11 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Play Book Tag Shelf
    • Rated 4 stars

    summerfly! high time too! said: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a book with stories and words just rolling around and around, which seem to have difficulty finding the proper line up!! To many hidden meanings, too much forward thinking for me! I am not a fan of stories within stories no stars .. and ya... I can be hard like that sometimes!

    Kate MacDonald said: Hardest book I've read in years.
    "Droll thing life is - that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose. The most you can holpe from it is some knowledge of yourself - that comes too late - a crop of unextinguishable regrets."

    blackadder said: I thought this was a so-so story. I really couldn't get into the story line because of the writing style. 2/5*


    Brad B said: Quite possibly the hardest book I've ever finished (note I said finished - not attempted to read, there are lots of those) I've attempted to read this book for years and could never get past page 4, this time I decided to try audio. I am trapped in a car, the tape is playing - I got past page 4 and rather enjoyed it. I wasn't too sure of what I was listening to half the time, so when I got home each night I would sit down with the book and Sparknotes to try to comprehend what I listened to earlier in the day. There was a lot involved in this one, but since it is a classic, it was worth my time to finally come to a basic understanding of all of Conrad's symbolism and writing style. I don't read all fluff and this book was tough - so if you plan on reading it, make sure you set aside a nice, quiet place and plenty of time to try to comprehend what you read - rating: 4/5 -

    Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Tuesday, June 10 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • summer rain
    • Rated 0 stars

    Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a book with stories and words just rolling around and around, which seem to have difficulty finding the proper line up!! To many hidden meanings, too much forward thinking for me! I am not a fan of stories within stories no stars .. and ya... I can be hard like that sometimes!

    summer rain wrote this review Monday, June 9 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Mark in Doha
    • Rated 0 stars

    An essential book. Conrad is no racist as Chinua Achebe accuses him. The heart of darkness is not a geographical position, but a disposition of the human heart.

    Mark in Doha wrote this review Sunday, June 1 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Displaying 1-10 of 51 reviews
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