Heart of Darkness

Written by Joseph Conrad

Narrated by Gil Anders

‘Heart of Darkness’, the famous novella by Joseph Conrad, first published in 1902, reveals the disgust at the cruelty that the author observed when he worked briefly in the Belgian Congo. Although no territory is named in the text, the story is based on a journey that Conrad took up the Congo River in 1890, during King Leopold II of Belgium’s abusive rule of the area. The main narrative follows the journey of the ferry-boat captain Marlow in his job as an ivory transporter on the river. Marlow’s other assignment is to return Kurtz, another ivory trader, to Europe. The severely ill Kurtz dies on the journey after handling Marlow a collection of papers. Back in Europe, Marlow gives these to a journalist instead of the parties for which they were intended. ‘Heart of Darkness’ is a story of many layers and nuances, not only about exploitation but also about the emptiness which follows when the delusion behind certain lofty ideals is exposed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yashiki Audio
• Release date: Sep 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781094204659

Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was a Polish-British writer, regarded as one of the greatest novelists in the English language. Though he was not fluent in English until the age of twenty, Conrad mastered the language and was known for his exceptional command of stylistic prose. Inspiring a reoccurring nautical setting, Conrad’s literary work was heavily influenced by his experience as a ship’s apprentice. Conrad’s style and practice of creating anti-heroic protagonists is admired and often imitated by other authors and artists, immortalizing his innovation and genius.