Heart of Darkness (British Classics Series) (eBook)

Joseph Conrad, born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski on December 3, 1857, in Berdychiv, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire, is a celebrated English novelist and short story writer. Conrad's evocative prose style is marked by a profound sense of moral pessimism and a keen psychological insight, which he acquired from his diverse experiences at sea. Orphaned at an early age, Conrad pursued a maritime career, which took him to the far reaches of the British Empire and beyond, providing rich fodder for his subsequent literary works. He began writing in his late thirties, eventually adopting English, his third language, with an adept proficiency that has garnered the admiration of both his contemporaries and modern literary critics. His most notable work, 'Heart of Darkness' (1902), remains a staple of British literary classics, deeply examining the complexities of imperialism, colonialism, and human nature. Conrad's narrative techniques, including non-linear storytelling and unreliable narrators, influenced many authors and contributed to the modernist wave. Despite struggling with health issues and modest success initially, Conrad's oeuvre grew posthumously in stature, cementing his position as a leading figure in the twentieth-century canon of English literature. His body of work remains a touchstone for students and scholars of narrative fiction and colonial studies. Conrad passed away on August 3, 1924, but his literary legacy continues to inspire and provoke.