Heart of Darkness (Annotated Keynote Classics)

“My task which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word to make you hear, to make you feel — it is, before all, to make you see. That — and no more, and it is everything.” ~ Joseph Conrad

Join the sailors aboard the Nellie as they listen to Marlow’s dark atmospheric tale of the depths of human depravity. Follow his descent into the heart of the Belgian Congo in search of the mysterious Kurtz. Witness with him the horrors of imperialism and idealistic hypocrisy as he comes to question the very idea of civilization. Find out how Marlow and Kurtz fare in this short but intense psychological drama. Unabridged edition first published in 1899.

Joseph Conrad was born Polish but became one of the foremost English language authors, known for modernist fiction that delves into complex issues of morality, idealism, and security. Much of his work is based on his experiences as a sailor in the British Merchant Service. Heart of Darkness was drawn from his psychologically and physically traumatic experience as a steamboat captain recorded in his Congo Diaries. Other popular works include Lord Jim, Nostromo, The Secret Agent, Victory, and The Shadow-Line.

Keynote Classics™ offer a better way to read classic literature, whether for enjoyment or for a class. They include an Introductory Key to give you helpful information that will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the novel. Traditional literature introductions include in-depth analysis describing plot, themes, and literary devices, and inevitably give away the story before you’ve had a chance to enjoy it relying your own perception and understanding. Keynote Classics™ Introductory Keys are different.

• No-spoiler study guides don’t give away plot, themes, or symbolism, and they don’t do literary analysis for you. They simply point out general ideas and things to pay attention to that help you find your own interpretations.
• Includes brief historical context about the author and the time and place the novel was written to help you gain important perspective before reading it.
• Provides 10 suggested topics for discussion and/or essays.
• Teachers recommend that you read actively and engage with the text to help you draw on your own knowledge and experience to get at the meat of a novel. Keynote Classics paperbacks provide extra wide margins for jotting down your thoughts, connections, and interpretations while you read.
• Printed with chlorine-free ink and acid-free paper made from 30% post-consumer waste recycled material supplied by a Forest Stewardship Council-certified provider.