Heart of Darkness

In Heart of Darkness, English seaman Marlow tells the story of his time as a riverboat captain for a trading company on the Congo, specifically his intense interest in investigating the mysterious Kurtz, an ivory-procurement agent with almost godlike status. On his journey, Marlow discovers not only the barbaric treatment of the natives at the hands of the Europeans, but also the unfathomable darkness in every human soul. The novel is a fascinating exploration of imperialism and human nature.