A review by chezlaterre
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

3.0

I find this book frustrating because the author offers important insights into issues relating to "human nature"--whatever that may be--and insights into colonial atrocities. It's hard, however not to write much of it off as his observations and the language he uses to describe Africa and Africans are so offensive. I suppose it's best understood as an artifact of it's time. If done so, it is emblematic of both profound progress within it's time (he does acknowledge disdain for colonialism--and exposes "the horrors" less widely known in Europe at the time), so much space traversed since...and the considerable distance yet to cross. He also has a beautiful way with words.