Heart of Darkness
Read this book freeEvery sentence translated, natural audio, one-tap dictionary
Marlow, a sailor, tells how he took a riverboat job in a European colony in Africa and went upriver to find Kurtz, an ivory agent who has stopped answering. The journey becomes a descent into greed and darkness, both around him and in himself. The prose is dense and slow, so it is best for an advanced learner who enjoys atmosphere over action.
Learn English with Heart of Darkness
- Suits learners around level B1: you read the original, not a simplified retelling.
- Who it suits: a full-length book at B1, for readers who have finished a short classic and want a longer story with the translation as a safety net.
- 5,510 distinct words, each one a tap away from your personal vocabulary list.
- Translation into Russian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Turkish or Arabic, aligned to every sentence, shown under the text or beside it.
- Read-aloud audio for every chapter, with the current sentence highlighted as it is read.
- Read in English, glance at the translation under any sentence you are unsure of, and listen to natural read-aloud voices to train your ear.
How it works
- Open the book: no installation, it reads in the browser on any device.
- Read a sentence in English. Its translation sits right under it, so you never lose the thread.
- Tap a word for its meaning and save it; listen to the chapter read aloud.
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Questions about this book
Can I read Heart of Darkness in English for free?
Yes. The first chapters of Heart of Darkness open without an account, with the translation, audio and dictionary included. A free account unlocks the rest of the book.
How much English do I need?
The text is estimated at level B1. Because every sentence has its translation underneath, lower levels can follow along too.
Is there audio?
Yes. Each chapter can be read aloud by a natural-sounding voice while the current sentence is highlighted.
Is Heart of Darkness available in Russian?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Heart of Darkness is shown with its Russian translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Russian whenever you need to.
Is Heart of Darkness available in Spanish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Heart of Darkness is shown with its Spanish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Spanish whenever you need to.
Is Heart of Darkness available in Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Heart of Darkness is shown with its Brazilian Portuguese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Brazilian Portuguese whenever you need to.
Is Heart of Darkness available in Japanese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Heart of Darkness is shown with its Japanese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Japanese whenever you need to.
Is Heart of Darkness available in Chinese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Heart of Darkness is shown with its Chinese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Chinese whenever you need to.
Is Heart of Darkness available in Turkish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Heart of Darkness is shown with its Turkish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Turkish whenever you need to.
Is Heart of Darkness available in Arabic?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of Heart of Darkness is shown with its Arabic translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Arabic whenever you need to.
Can I download Heart of Darkness as a PDF or EPUB?
Not from Booklern: the book is read online, in the browser, with nothing to download or install. Your place in the book is saved to your account.
