# Heart of Darkness

**Author:** Joseph Conrad
**Lexile:** 1070L
**Grade range:** Grades 11–12
**Age range:** 16–18
**First published:** 1899
**Page count:** 96
**Genre:** Novella
**ISBN-13:** `9780486264646`
**ISBN-10:** `0486264645`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/heart-of-darkness
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Charles Marlow recounts his journey up the Congo River as a riverboat captain for a Belgian trading company in search of the ivory-trader Kurtz. A cornerstone of 11th-12th grade modernism units and AP English Literature — also frequently taught alongside Achebe's critical response.

## Themes

- colonialism
- madness
- imperialism
- moral darkness

## Content notes

- colonial violence
- racism (historical text)

Common Sense Media age recommendation: 15+

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