<Tr> <Th> Preceded by </Th> <Td> The Nigger of the' Narcissus' (1897) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Followed by </Th> <Td> Lord Jim (1900) </Td> </Tr> <P> Heart of Darkness (1899) is a novella by Polish - English novelist Joseph Conrad, about a voyage up the Congo River into the Congo Free State, in the heart of Africa, by the story's narrator Charles Marlow . Marlow tells his story to friends aboard a boat anchored on the River Thames, London, England . This setting provides the frame for Marlow's story of his obsession with the ivory trader Kurtz, which enables Conrad to create a parallel between London and Africa as places of darkness . </P> <P> Central to Conrad's work is the idea that there is little difference between so - called civilised people and those described as savages; Heart of Darkness raises questions about imperialism and racism . </P>

Where does the heart of darkness take place