What is "kurtz"

Kurtz is a central fictional character in Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. A trader of ivory in Africa and commander of a trading post, he monopolises his position as a demigod among native Africans. Kurtz meets with the novella's protagonist, Charles Marlow, who returns him to the coast via steamboat. Kurtz, whose reputation precedes him, impresses Marlow strongly, and during the return journey Marlow is witness to Kurtz's final moments.

Kurtz may refer to:

Kurtz or Kurz is a surname first found in Switzerland. It is mainly a German and Jewish ( Ashkenazic) surname, meaning someone who is short in height. It comes from the German word 'kurz' meaning 'short'.