Heart of Darkness

3.4 avg 573782 votes 26235 reviews 340601 want to read

About this book

Heart of Darkness (1899) is a novella by Polish-English novelist Joseph Conrad, about a voyage up the Congo River into the Congo Free State, in the heart of Africa, by the story's narrator Charles Marlow. Marlow tells his story to friends aboard a boat anchored on the River Thames. Joseph Conrad is one of the greatest English writers, and Heart of Darkness is considered his best. His readers are brought to face our psychological selves to answer, ‘Who is the true savage?’. Originally published in 1902, Heart of Darkness remains one of this century’s most enduring works of fiction. Written several years after Joseph Conrad’s grueling sojourn in the Belgian Congo, the novel is a complex meditation on colonialism, evil, and the thin line between civilization and barbarity.

3.4 ★★★☆☆ average of 4 sources · 573782 votes
Open Library 3.6 138
1★2★3★4★5★
Goodreads 3.4 573782

26,235 reviews · 340,601 want to read · 22,862 reading now

Apple Books 4.0 2204
Hardcover 2.0 1

Reader Profile

Enjoyment69Difficulty80Influence91Popularity81Classic100

3.4/5 · 573782 readers · 130 pages · ≈ 2 h 24 m · Challenging

How long does it take to read Heart of Darkness?

About ≈ 2 h 24 m — 130 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.Typical novel≈ 5 h 56 mHeart of Darkness~2 h 24 m

How many pages is Heart of Darkness?

130 pages in its most-read edition.Typical novel320Heart of Darkness130

What genre is Heart of Darkness?

It sits on the Sea Stories, Travel, Drama shelves.

Has Heart of Darkness been made into a movie or TV show?

Yes — screen adaptations include Apocalypse Now (2019), Apocalypse Now Redux (2001), Apocalypse Now (1979).

Is Heart of Darkness in the public domain?

Yes — it is free to read and share.

Who are the main characters in Heart of Darkness?

The main characters include Joseph Conrad (1857-1924).

Where does Heart of Darkness take place?

It is set in Africa, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo River during 19th century.

Who wrote Heart of Darkness?

Joseph Conrad.

Where can I read Heart of Darkness online for free?

It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library

Setting AfricaCongo (Democratic Republic)Congo River Time period 19th century Characters Joseph Conrad (1857-1924)
Heart of Darkness ★ 3.4 · 4 sources Read free Check price →