The Polish-born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski wrote under the
pseudonym of Joseph Conard; an Anglicized derivative of his first and
second middle names. He was born in what is now Ukraine on December 3,
1857, but later in life became fluent in the English language, and
arguably one of the greatest novelists of the twentieth century. Having
spent his early years as a merchant sailor, it comes as no surprise that
he chose to write about a seafaring subject. However, his novella "Heart
of Darkness" was more than a fictional recollection of a steamboat's
trip up the Congo River in what was then the Congo Free State. Conrad
introduces his readers to Charles Marlow, the story's narrator, who
recounts the tale of Kurtz, a successful Congo ivory trader. In doing
so, Marlow draws comparisons between the great city of light, London,
and the darkness of Africa. Conrad uses themes, symbolism, and motifs to
portray the effects of imperialism, colonialism, and racism, and by
doing so, explores the human psyche. The parallels Conrad draws is what
makes "Heart of Darkness" a classic. It is as relevant to geopolitical
discussions today as it was when he wrote it. Since its first printing,
"Heart of Darkness" has been translated into various languages and
reprinted by many publishers. It remains a springboard for literary
discussions involving numerous social and political topics.
