Name: Matthew Jackson's review of Heart of Darkness (Penguin Popular Classics) by Joseph Conrad
Item: Heart of Darkness (Penguin Popular Classics)
Rating: 3
Author: Matthew Jackson

Joseph Conrad

Heart of Darkness (Penguin Popular Classics)

A republication of the great Joseph Conrad novel

Heart of Darkness

Julie <3

My destiny! Droll thing life is— that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose.

I went no more near the remarkable man who had pronounced a judgment upon the adventures of his soul on this earth. The voice was gone. What else had been there? 

But both the diabolic love and the unearthly hate of the mysteries it had penetrated fought for the possession of that soul satiated with primitive emotions, avid of lying fame, of sham distinction, of all the appearances of success and power.

We live in the flicker— may it last as long as the old earth keeps rolling! But darkness was here yesterday.

We looked at the venerable stream not in the vivid flush of a short day that comes and departs for ever, but in the august light of abiding memories.

Matthew Jackson

Dark allegory describes the narrator's journey up the Congo River and his meeting with, and fascination by, Mr. Kurtz, a mysterious personage who dominates the unruly inhabitants of the region. Masterly blend of adventure, character development, psychological penetration. Considered by many Conrad's finest, most enigmatic story.

Tobias V. Langhoff

As I often do when I read classics, which sometimes are slightly hard to approach, I alternated between reading this book and listening to it. Kenneth Branagh is a superb narrator who really brought this book to life.

For the rest: Review of paperback edition.

Heart of Darkness (Vintage Classics)

As I often do when I read classics, which sometimes are slightly hard to approach, I alternated between reading this book and listening to Heart of Darkness. Kenneth Branagh is a superb narrator who really brought this book to life.

And as most classic books that have entered popular culture, this novella was very different from what I imagined. Obviously, the film Apocalypse Now! had given me certain expectations, but also the video games Far Cry 2 and Spec Ops: The Line (which are both recommended).

The book surely weaves a rising sense of an uncanny feeling of dread, a descent into the darkness of one man’s (or two men, if the narrator is included?) madness and of course that of the African jungle, where savages both black and white await. When Mr. Kurtz was encountered, though, I couldn’t help but feel a little underwhelmed. This is mostly the fault of pop culture and myself, but my expectations were perhaps a bit more climactic and cathartic.

After completing the book, it didn’t make me think as much as the aforementioned adaptations did. Still, a riveting enough read, and at least one star added for the fantastic narration.

jack

Heart of Darkness and the Secret Sharer

i feel like i didn't need to read that at all to be frank

riss

Heart of Darkness has been considered for most of this century as a literary classic, and also as a powerful indictment of the evils of imperialism. It reflects the savage repressions carried out in the Congo by the Belgians in one of the largest acts of genocide committed up to that time. Conrad's narrator encounters at the end of the story a man named Kurtz, dying, insane, and guilty of unspeakable atrocities.

Marie

What a mess. I couldn't concentrate on this book at all because it's so convoluted. Once again I don't see the greatness in it.

Shrini S

** spoiler alert **
           He inspired uneasiness.

There is a taint of death, a flavor of mortality in lies,—which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world—what I want to forget.

No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence,—that which makes its truth, its meaning—its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream—alone.

To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no more moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe.

"Going up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings.

One can't live with one's finger everlastingly on one's pulse.

"His was an impenetrable darkness. I looked at him as you peer down at a man who is lying at the bottom of a precipice where the sun never shines.

The most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself—that comes too late—a crop of unextinguishable regrets.

Laura Mauler

I read this for a class, and liked it. Would probably love it if I read it again (and didn't have to write a paper on it).

Amelia Raptis

Not a book for the faint-hearted, as the anti-H.O.D. critics would prove. Nonetheless, this book is my all-time favourite! From the complexities of narration and setting to themes and content, this book didn’t fail to please, never mind it’s challenging nature. Nothing about it was an easy read, but in a short few pages Conrad managed to unpack a whole corrupt world, along with character flaws and the role of nature. H.O.D is an intriguing book which keeps you on your toes the whole way through. Please please please make sure you read a summary first though, as having a decent understanding (or not) can make or break this book.

weenie ♡

Anushka Saha

Has really poignant moments and I recognize why it is considered such an important text in post-colonial studies, but overall, not for me.

rumbledethumps

Re-read this book after last reading it in high school. Read it in one sitting, while listening to the audiobook at the same time. This would seem to be the ideal way to read it, as that is the way Marlow tells the story, in one sitting to his companions while waiting for high tide in London. I enjoyed it much more than I remembered.

There is so much complexity in this book that I am sure I will need to read it again to catch everything. An exploration of Europe's colonization of Africa, of the "white man's burden," of how an individual copes with the inhumane and still remains human. This book has earned a place on my permanent shelf.

Silvia Lucchini

2,5
Un classico con sicuramente intriso in significato storico, filosofico e umano importante, ma non mi aveva convinto ai tempi del liceo e non l'ha fatto ora.

On a boat in the Thames estuary, Marlow tells his travelling companions of his reconnaissance expedition for a Belgian trading company to its most outpost in central Africa, which brought him on the trail of the elusive Kurtz, a brilliant idealist gone rogue. His account relates not only the perils he encounters on his quest, but also the deterioration of his state of mind as he is confronted with a world that is hostile and alien to him.

Heart of Darkness and the Complete Congo Diary

Hated it! If you would like to know why, read Chinua Achebe's brilliant essay "An Image of Africa: Racism Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'". 

Grace Frost

Colleen

4 Stars

Heart of Darkness a love it or hate type of book. It's not for everyone, and I can see why so many people cannot stand this book. Despite being a very short book, it is dense and slow. There is almost no plot. And the fact that many people read this as assigned reading increases their loathing. But if you can get past that, there is something beautiful here. Heart of Darkness may not have as high a standing among other Classics, but there is a reason why has stuck around.

What I loved most about this book were Conrad's descriptions. His writing is beautiful. Like many old works, his words have a cultured quality that most modern language completely lacks. That is why I love reading classics. They tap into a lexis that people no longer bother with and are overall more poetic. Conrad's words are a wonderful balance of elegance, erudition, and perception. Here are some examples:
“It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream--making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is of the very essence of dreams...No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning--its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream-alone...” 

“You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me. There is a taint of death, a flavor of mortality in lies - which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world - what I want to forget.”

“Droll thing life is -- that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose. The most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself -- that comes too late -- a crop of inextinguishable regrets.”

“I don't like work--no man does--but I like what is in the work--the chance to find yourself. Your own reality--for yourself not for others--what no other man can ever know. They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means.”

“They trespassed upon my thoughts. They were intruders whose knowledge of life was to me an irritating pretense, because I felt so sure they could not possibly know the things I knew. Their bearing, which was simply the bearing of commonplace individuals going about their business in the assurance of perfect safety, was offensive to me like the outrageous flaunting of folly in the face of a danger it is unable to comprehend. I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself from laughing in their faces, so full of stupid importance.”  The story has a suspenseful element but it is by no means a Thriller. It does not have the flashy formulaic structure that modern Suspense stories do. Rather, this is a slow burn. A first person narrative that seems simply at first - just a traveling companion relaying his experiences - but it slowly builds not towards some epic action or plot twist. No, it builds inward looking deep into the heart and mind. More than just pretty words, there is a psychological depth. It also features beautiful symbolism. The dominate symbolism of Darkness might seem overdone at times but I thought it was wonderfully done.

As with most old writing, it might seem time dated to some. People often get caught up when old writing contains terms considered politically correct any more. But that does not make the writing racist. Heart of Darkness contains cultural and societal commentary - that evil inside all of us. The ironic juxtaposition of the white Europeans trying to "civilize the savages" while at the same time devolving into barbaric actions. It also looks into Imperialism. This book was written at a time when the Europeans were divvying up Africa with no regards to the indigenous people. Conrad put his own personal experiences and views of colonization into this story. So while some of the language and attitudes seem very out of line with twenty-first century political correctness, it really needs to be emphasized that Conrad was basically villainizing colonization. Unfortunately many of these issues still apply all these years later. 

So while the story may not have a guns blazing plot, it is beautifully written and has a deeper message. It is a must read for any lover of classic literature.

“But his soul was mad. Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself and, by heavens I tell you, it had gone mad.”

“He struggled with himself, too. I saw it -- I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself.” 
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 3 Stars
Writing Style: 5 Stars
Originality: 5 Stars
Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Use of Literary Devices: 5 Stars

Beau

The Heart of Darkness is a novel encapsulated in adventure, existential thought, darkness, and inquisitiveness. The book follows the journey of Marlow and his recollection of memories once serving as a steamboat captain along the dangerous bends of Congo river. It's written as a frame narrative (story within a story), which does demand attentiveness considering the story often jumps in and out of first-person account, philosophical pondering, and so on. Light and darkness is explored predominantly throughout, as is the duality of human nature (albeit pessimistic at times). I'll more than likely come back and read this again one day - as it's full of themes and underlying currents which only several reads allow for. This book is small in length, but long and rich in content.

Ben Jenkins

Kathy Jedrzejczyk

I wasn't really a fan of this book. I think this is one of those that would have been easier to read if someone was guiding me along. It was on my "to read" list, so I dragged through it. I would like to look more into the history of this book and read some things about it, then maybe I'll have a better respect for it.

Alyssa 

Couldn't get into it. Only read a little bit for school.

Emelie

Kirsten Simkiss

I can definitely see how this book is overanalyzed in high school classes. Of the two stories, I preferred The Secret Sharer, though I felt the title was poorly selected. The Secret Keeper might have been more accurate. Heart of Darkness, on the other hand, was essentially a man going into the Congo with illusions of grandeur and coming out a much more hollowed out person, much more aware of reality than he had been before. The character, Marlow, approaches the world as a white man with a great deal of privilege who enters a world he doesn't know and assumes it all to be savage. As his ship breaks down and he learns more of the people along the Congo, he's forced to reevaluate his positions and it emotionally breaks him in some ways.

I didn't particularly enjoy this book. The pace is slow and the details are so extensive that the plot of the story gets lost in it quite a bit. I kept wanting to put it down and stop reading, but I persevered. It isn't something I would recommend to others and I highly doubt I will ever commit myself to reading it again.

isaac b

Probably the most pointless book I’ve ever been forced to read.

Valentina

Ashlyn

I started this book more than 4 times over the past 15 years and never managed to finish until this most recent attempt. This is clearly a work full of meaning and intention, the choice of each word deliberate and heavy. It is not a page-turning adventure story, but rather a slow-burning piece of existential horror. I now understand why this book is a classic, and I also can see how it is not a favorite among students forced to read it. This is a book one should read when they are ready to read it instead of being told they must.

Sara Hakkoum

Possibly the stupidest and most useless book I have ever set my hands on. I’ve never read any book whose each page makes me want to shoot myself, till now. Without all the metaphors and figures of speech, the book would be a quarter of its original size. I like the use of figurative language and all, but not when it’s used in an excess that would make me mentally incapable of anything after the first read. I read it as fast I could just so I could get rid of it. I dream of burning it. I read pages and pages and had no idea what the hell was going on. I specifically despise the author’s idea of putting a story in a story and how 99.9% of the book is a quotation. I don’t give a shit how much it influenced English literature or whatever.

They seriously should have put a “CAUTION: Big words that will waste many hours of your life inside.” sticker on the cover for people like me.

What pissed me off the most is the fact that I actually paid for this torture.

I know I went a little too far there, but it was seriously a waste of my time and money.

Matthew Jackson &
Heart of Darkness (Penguin Popular Classics) by Joseph Conrad

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

Matthew Jackson &Heart of Darkness (Penguin Popular Classics) by Joseph Conrad

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

Matthew Jackson &
Heart of Darkness (Penguin Popular Classics) by Joseph Conrad