Heart of Darkness

By: Joseph Conrad

Narrated by: Michael M. Thompson

First published in 1899, Heart of Darkness ranks as a landmark of modern fiction. A darkly brilliant novel, rich with symbolism, it remains as powerful today as ever. The spellbinding story of a harrowing journey into the depths of Africa reveals the corruption at the heart of human existence.

An enigmatic seaman named Marlowe tells of his journey upriver, deep into the Congo. As civilization as he knows it rapidly deteriorates, the prospect of meeting the mysterious Kurtz, an ivory trader, draws him along. Finally, Marlowe comes face to face with Kurtz—and unspeakable horror.

Public Domain (P)1989 Recorded Books

better

on the third time that I downloaded this book it finally came in so that I could understand it. If you are getting this because of "Apocalyspe Now" don't bother. interesting but not great.

Rotten Dead Hippos

I really think that "Heart of Darkness" is like a memoir for this author. Joseph Conrad was in the British Merchants Navy and worked his way up to captain. While serving, he traveled into the African Congo and maybe he got his inspiration for the book and maybe Marlow's madness is some kind of symbolism from Conrad's past. Many readers label him as an racist because he depicts on the Black in a disregardful manner, but I don't think that is the right message that Conrad was trying to express.

If you do your research on this author, you will realize the he was a Polish descent and didn't adopt his new language until later in life. I really think that he took many of his experience and put it in the "Heart of Darkness." For example, the smell of rotten dead hippos could be a symbolism of death or danger, because hippos usually sense danger in the river and feel threaten by other prey.

I wasn't a literature major in school, but even I know that this book goes much deeper than it's title. It makes you want to read it more than once to reveal something else. Maybe it's a story of nature vs. nurture, or fight for the fittest. Whatever it might be, it will take me a while to get to the point of the book. I just think that Conrad was brilliant in all levels at writing this book.

A classic made better by a good performance

I read this book for a literature class and didn't really understand it but after picking it up here I found that I could follow it better. I thought Thompson did a great job with the narration, I didn't have any problems understanding him. I'd recommend this version over some of the others offered.

It is a book that you need to concentrate on or it's easy to get lost and because of that I had to listen to sections over again to understand them but it wasn't particularly long so that wasn't much of an issue.

Pay attention!

Heart of Darkness is a celebration of words and phrases. It less about the melody and more about the voice of each instrument played perfectly. I suppose it is like a Grateful Dead concert: the instrument is celebrated not the melody.

a Classic

If you've watched Apocalypse Now, then you will be mesmerized by The Heart of Darkness. Absolutely fantastic writing.