Heart of Darkness: Fear and Loathing in the Congo
The dark history behind Joseph Conrad's iconic 'Heart of Darkness'
鈥淭he horror! The horror!鈥�
Joseph Conrad鈥檚 鈥楬eart of Darkness鈥� - the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola鈥檚 鈥楢pocalypse Now鈥� - is one of the most celebrated literary works of all time, though now increasingly contentious. Based on Conrad鈥檚 own terrible journey into the Congo in 1890, and the horrors he beheld there while it was under the sway of King Leopold of Belgium鈥檚 monstrous regime, the novella, published in 1899, delves into man鈥檚 capacity for evil - the primal beast lurking beneath the surface of all humans - and has long stood as the preeminent cultural representation of European colonialism. It tells the story of Mr Kurtz, a great ivory trader who has disappeared deep into the African interior, and appears to have lost his mind, having penetrated some terrifying, ancient truth. Initially, Conrad鈥檚 disturbing account was viewed as the ultimate attack on imperialism, though aspects of the novella have also invited accusations of racism and imperialism, in part owed to Conrad鈥檚 own sympathy for Empire. So what is the truth at the heart of 'Heart of Darkness'? And who was Joseph Conrad himself? What horrors did he behold to have inspired such a poignant account of the nightmares within and without鈥�?
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Producer: Theo Young-Smith
Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett
Editor: Jack Meek
Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
