Joseph Conrad: Heart of Darkness

"Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad is one of those classics of literature that should be read by everyone. Dark and deeply psychological, "Heart of Darkness" is more than just a great novel--it is one of the most frequently referenced culture touchstones in the western world and served as inspiration for the film "Apocalypse Now." For a century, Joseph Conrad's novel has drawn both raves and rage. Recently criticized by PC "academics" for its racism, "Heart of Darkness" remains one of the best books ever written. While it could be called racist, it is no different than most of the prejudices held by Western Europeans of the period. That doesn't detract from the fact that this book is beautifully written an amazing allegory depicting the battle between man and the inner beast. Before letting anyone turn you off on "Heart of Darkness" for its racism or its long sentence structure, just give it a read-through. This is one trip upriver you won't regret.