"Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad is a novella published in 1899. Sailor Charles Marlow recounts his journey as a steamer captain for a Belgian company deep into the African interior, where he must find Kurtz, an ivory trader who has "gone native." The story examines European colonialism, power, and morality, questioning the difference between "civilised people" and "savages." Conrad draws stark parallels between London and Africa as places of darkness, creating a critique of imperialism that continues to provoke discussion.