Heart of darkness
(Book)

First published, serialized in Blackwood's magazine, in 1899. First published in book form under the title Youth : a narrative and two other stories (London : W. Blackwood & Sons, 1902). The Congo diary is from 1890.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [xxxix]-xli).

Marlow, a seaman and wanderer, recounts his physical and psychological journey in search of the infamous ivory trader Kurtz. Traveling up river to the heart of the African continent, he gradually becomes obsessed by this enigmatic, wraith-like figure. Marlow's discovery of how Kurtz has gained his position of power over the local people involves him in a radical questioning, not only of his own nature and values, but those of Western civilization. This edition contains Conrad's Congo Diary of 1890--the first notes, in effect, for the novel that was composed at the end of the decade.