Heart of Darkness

Deep in the African continent, a young sailor named Marlow journeys upriver in search of Kurtz, an ivory trader who has become a legend. What begins as a colonial expedition soon turns into a descent into the unknown: the impenetrable jungle, the violence of imperialism, and, above all, the shadows that dwell within the human heart.

First published in 1899, Heart of Darkness is one of the most influential works of modern literature. Conrad weaves a disturbing and ambiguous tale in which adventure merges with philosophical reflection, and outward exploration becomes an inward inquiry into power, corruption, and moral fragility. A masterpiece that continues to challenge readers more than a century later.

Joseph Conrad (1857–1924), born in Berdychiv, then part of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine), was a merchant seaman before becoming one of the great novelists in the English language, despite adopting it as his third language. His works, rich in symbolism and moral tension, explore solitude, colonialism, and the darkness of the human soul.