Heart of Darkness and Selected Short Fiction (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

A haunting and hugely influential Modernist masterpiece, the Penguin Classics edition of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is edited with an introduction by Owen Knowles. Conrad's narrator Marlow, a seaman and wanderer, recounts his physical and psychological journey in search of the infamous ivory trader Kurtz: dying, insane, and guilty of unspeakable atrocities. Travelling upriver 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 also those of western civilisation. The inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's Oscar-winning film Apocalypse Now, Heart of Darkness is a quintessentially modernist work exploring the limits of human experience and the nightmarish realities of imperialism. Part of a major series of new editions of Conrad's most famous works in Penguin Classics, this volume contains Conrad's Congo Diary, a chronology, further reading, notes, a map of the Congo, a glossary and an introduction discussing the author's experiences in Africa, the narrative and symbolic complexities of Heart of Darkness and critical responses to the novel. Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was born in the Ukraine and grew up under Tsarist autocracy. After spending years in the French, and later the British Merchant Navy, Conrad left the sea to devote himself to writing. In 1896 he settled in Kent, where he produced within fifteen years such modern classics as Youth, Heart of Darkness, Lord Jim, Typhoon, Nostromo, The Secret Agent and Under Western Eyes. If you enjoyed Heart of Darkness, you might like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, also available in Penguin Classics. 'Seems to reach into the heart of Conrad himself'Peter Ackroyd

heart Of Darkness And Selected Short Fiction, By Joseph Conrad, Is Part Of The barnes & Noble Classics Series, Which Offers Quality Editions At Affordable Prices To The Student And The General Reader, Including New Scholarship, Thoughtful Design, And Pages Of Carefully Crafted Extras. Here Are Some Of The Remarkable Features Of Barnes & Noble Classics:

* New Introductions Commissioned From Today's Top Writers And Scholars
* Biographies Of The Authors
* Chronologies Of Contemporary Historical, Biographical, And Cultural Events
* Footnotes And Endnotes
* Selective Discussions Of Imitations, Parodies, Poems, Books, Plays, Paintings, Operas, Statuary, And Films Inspired By The Work
* Comments By Other Famous Authors
* Study Questions To Challenge The Reader's Viewpoints And Expectations
* Bibliographies For Further Reading
* Indices & Glossaries, When Appropriate

all Editions Are Beautifully Designed And Are Printed To Superior Specifications; Some Include Illustrations Of Historical Interest. Barnes & Noble Classics Pulls Together A Constellation Of Influences—biographical, Historical, And Literary—to Enrich Each Reader's Understanding Of These Enduring Works.
one Of The Most Haunting Stories Ever Written, Joseph Conrad’s heart Of Darkness Follows Marlow, A Riverboat Captain, On A Voyage Into The African Congo At The Height Of European Colonialism. Astounded By The Brutal Depravity He Witnesses, Marlow Becomes Obsessed With Meeting Kurtz, A Famously Idealistic And Able Man Stationed Farther Along The River. What He Finally Discovers, However, Is A Horror Beyond Imagining. heart Of Darkness Is Widely Regarded As A Masterpiece For Its Vivid Study Of Human Nature And The Greed And Ruthlessness Of Imperialism.
this Collection Also Includes Three Of Conrad’s Finest Short Stories: “youth,” The Author’s Largely Autobiographical Tale Of A Young Man’s Ill-fated Sea Voyage, In Which Marlow Makes His First Appearance, “the Secret Sharer,” And “amy Forster.”

features A Map Of The Congo Free State.

a. Michael Matin Is A Professor In The English Department Of Warren Wilson College In Asheville, North Carolina. He Has Published Articles On Various Twentieth-century British And Postcolonial Writers.

Heart of Darkness and Selected Short Fiction , by Joseph Conrad, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: * New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars * Biographies of the authors * Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events * Footnotes and endnotes * Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work * Comments by other famous authors * Study questions to challenge the readers viewpoints and expectations * Bibliographies for further reading * Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each readers understanding of these enduring works. One of the most haunting stories ever written, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness follows Marlow, a riverboat captain, on a voyage into the African Congo at the height of European colonialism. Astounded by the brutal depravity he witnesses, Marlow becomes obsessed with meeting Kurtz, a famously idealistic and able man stationed farther along the river. What he finally discovers, however, is a horror beyond imagining. Heart of Darkness is widely regarded as a masterpiece for its vivid study of human nature and the greed and ruthlessness of imperialism. This collection also includes three of Conrad's finest short stories: "Youth," the author's largely autobiographical tale of a young man's ill-fated sea voyage, in which Marlow makes his first appearance, "The Secret Sharer," and "Amy Forster." Features a map of the Congo Free State. A. Michael Matin is a professor in the English Department of Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. He has published articles on various twentieth-century British and postcolonial writers. In "Heart of Darkness, Captain Marlowe must wend his way up the African Congo to recover the missing Colonel Kurtz in one of the greatest steamship adventures ever told. As Marlowe's ship Nellie scrapes along the Congo, the voyage into the human soul, like the morass of steaming foliage along the banks, becomes increasingly dark and perilous. In addition to the Marlowe tales "Heart of Darkness and "Youth, this new volume includes Conrad's classic doppelganger tale "The Secret Sharer and the lesser known "Amy Foster." Michael Matin is a professor in the English Department of Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. Includes an Original Map of the Congo. "Marlow, a seaman and wanderer, recounts his physical and psychological journey in search of the infamous ivory trader Kurtz. Travelling 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. A haunting and hugely influential Modernist masterpiece, Heart of Darkness (1899) explores the limits of human experience as well as the nightmarish realities of imperialism."--Back cover

Penguin inaugurates a series of revised editions of Conrad's finest works, with new introductions

Exploring the workings of consciousness as well as the grim realities of imperialism, Heart of Darkness tells of Marlow, a seaman and wanderer, who journeys into the heart of the African continent to discover how the enigmatic Kurtz has gained power over the local people.

Resting one night on a boat on the River Thames, Charlie Marlow tells his friends about his experiences as a steamboat captain on the River Congo. There, in the heart of Africa, his search for the extraordinary Mr. Kurtz caused him to question his own nature and values-- and the nature and values of his society