Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad's <i>Heart of Darkness </i>(1899) is one of the most important literary works of the early twentieth century. It has provoked much critical debate on issues such as <i>fin de </i><i>siècle </i>doubt and pessimism European colonialism racism and misogyny. Engaging with the novel's characters is crucial to understanding its complexity and its criticalhistory. <br/><br/>This study includes: an overview of the novel including an account of its late nineteenth-century context discussions of the narrative structure and the narrators; - chapters analyzing in detail the key characters in relation to the text's themes issues and historical context; engagement with a range of literary criticism and theory; a conclusion reminding students of the potential of detailed character analysis and close critical reading; a guide to secondary texts and a comprehensive bibliography.