It was a long, tough slog. Quite a feat for a book that is only 72 pages long. It tells the story in retrospect of the journey of the ship's captain, Charles Marlow, into the Belgium Congo as a young man. His meandering and slow journey eventually ends with meeting the reclusive and exceptional station manager, Mr. Kurtz. The man dies almost as soon as Marlow arrives and entrusts all his papers to the young man. Along the way, Marlow has seen enough horror to embitter him against what the "civilized" are doing in the "heart of darkness," Africa.
I know it's supposed to be good, and it might be to my shame that I didn't enjoy it. It's very slow and it's almost as if nothing happens. Much of the book is just waiting around and remarking on the inefficiencies that characterize the Belgium colonizers. Maybe I missed something, but it's not one I'd recommend.
