Preview
  • Youth and Heart of Darkness

  • By: Joseph Conrad
  • Narrated by: Brian Cox
  • Length: 3 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (16 ratings)

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Youth and Heart of Darkness

By: Joseph Conrad
Narrated by: Brian Cox
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Publisher's summary

In these two magnificent novellas Conrad explores the question of self-discovery through powerful and exciting narratives: In Youth, the experienced seaman Marlow tells the story of a young man's coming of age on his first voyage to the East, while in Heart of Darkness he describes with terrifying depth and vividness the slide into corruption of an idealistic trader, Kurtz, who has become the demi-devil of the Inner Station in the Belgian Congo.

Public Domain (P)1996 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.
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Editorial reviews

The great Scot, Brian Cox, has enjoyed a brilliant career as an actor specializing in Shakespearean drama. He is the perfect choice, therefore, to perform Joseph Conrad’s demanding and seminal short novels, Youth and Heart of Darkness. Both novels focus on the human condition through the prism of Marlowe, a swarthy English seaman.

In Youth, Marlowe suffers a horrendous shipwreck en route to Thailand. In Heart of Darkness, Marlowe sails deep into the African jungle where he meets Kurtz, arguably a personification of the degrading power of imperialism. While the novels were written one year apart, Heart of Darkness is widely considered one of the great works of the English language and is the basis of the Francis Ford Coppola’s film Apocalypse Now.

What listeners say about Youth and Heart of Darkness

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While camping on South Manitou Island, MI

Backpacking through a primeval forest really puts you in the mood for this one. Carrying a plastic tote full of drinking water a mile back to your camp because you forgot water containers enhances the immersion. “The lone white man, trudging through the impenetrable jungle. I did not know the motive.”

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Fantastic narration

So glad to find a reading that does justice to one of my favorite books. Heard from someone on a forum that this was the best reading of Heart of Darkness and they're definitely not wrong. Easy to follow throughout and you really get to appreciate Brian Cox's narration at the end of the stories - the pacing and emotion just makes you stop whatever you're doing and listen. Also the atmospheric music at the start of the books is so well fitting. The only thing I can say is the accents aren't perfect, but the rest of the performance easily makes up for it. Easily my favorite audiobook in my library and it's unfortunate this version isn't more popular on the store.

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