Joseph Conrad's
Heart of Darkness
(1899) is one of the most important literary works of the early twentieth century. It has provoked much critical debate, on issues such as
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siècle
doubt and pessimism, European colonialism, racism, and misogyny. Engaging with the novel's characters is crucial to understanding its complexity and its criticalhistory.
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.