Heart of Darkness and Selected Short Fiction

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: Youth, the author’s largely autobiographical tale of a young man’s ill-fated sea voyage, in which Marlow makes his first appearance; also, The Secret Sharer and Amy Forster.The book features a map of the Congo Free State.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.