Darkstroke

Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness book cover
HO
Classics Fiction Historical Fiction

by Joseph Conrad

starstarstarstar_halfstar
3.42 (255.6K ratings)
calendar_today 1899
description 188 pages

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad holds a mixed reviews rating of 3.42 out of 5, based on 255.6K reader ratings. First published in 1899. The book spans 188 pages.

About Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness, a novel by Joseph Conrad, was originally a three-part series in Blackwood's Magazine in 1899. It is a story within a story, following a character named Charlie Marlow, who recounts his adventure to a group of men onboard an anchored ship. The story told is of his early life as a ferry boat captain. Although his job was to transport ivory downriver, Charlie develops an interest in investing an ivory procurement agent, Kurtz, who is employed by the government. Preceded by his reputation as a brilliant emissary of progress, Kurtz has now established himself as a god among the natives in “one of the darkest places on earth.” Marlow suspects something else of Kurtz: he has gone mad.A reflection on corruptive European colonialism and a journey into the nightmare psyche of one of the corrupted, Heart of Darkness is considered one of the most influential works ever written.

Detail Value
Author Joseph Conrad
Published 1899
Pages 188
Genres Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction
Average Rating 3.42 / 5.00
Total Ratings 255,576

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

3.4
starstarstarstar_halfstar
255.6K ratings
With a rating of 3.42, Heart of Darkness is rated below the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 4.03, it performs below the genre benchmark. With 255.6K ratings, it is among the most reviewed books in its category.

How It Compares

3.42
This Book
4.03
Historical Fiction Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is Heart of Darkness?

Heart of Darkness is categorized as Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Historical Fiction.

Is Heart of Darkness worth reading?

Based on 255.6K reader ratings, Heart of Darkness has an average score of 3.42 out of 5.00, which is considered "Mixed Reviews." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.

How many pages is Heart of Darkness?

Heart of Darkness has 188 pages. It is a relatively quick read.

Who wrote Heart of Darkness?

Heart of Darkness was written by Joseph Conrad. It was first published in 1899.

What is the ISBN for Heart of Darkness?

The ISBN-13 for Heart of Darkness is 9781892295490.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026