Showing results by author "Joseph Conrad" in All Categories

Heart of Darkness is a short novel by Polish novelist Joseph Conrad, written as a frame narrative, about Charles Marlow's life as an ivory transporter down the Congo River in Central Africa. This book was the basis for Francis Ford Coppola's classic Vietnam film Apocalypse Now.

I have been called a writer of the sea, of the tropics, a descriptive writer - and also a realist. But as a matter of fact all my concern has been with the 'ideal' value of things, events and people. That and nothing else - Joseph Conrad When Willems stepped off the straight and narrow path of his own peculiar honesty he thought it would be a short episode - a sentence in brackets, so to speak - in the flowing tale of his life. But Willems was wrong, for he was about to embark on a voyage of discovery and self-discovery that would change, if not destroy, the reset of his life.

When the new captain takes over command of his first ship for the homeward voyage from the Gulf of Siam, he surprises his crew by taking the first nightwatch himself. While alone on deck he is surprised to find a lone swimmer in the sea who comes on board. The stranger is a murderer escaping justice, but is also eerily an almost exact doppelganger of the captain himself. Not only does he look identical, but the two almost seem to share the same thoughts and secrets. Rather than turn his fugitive-double over to the authorities, the captain hides him in his own cabin.

Inspired by an actual terrorist attack on Greenwich Laboratory in 1894 ‘The Secret Agent’ is arguably Conrad’s greatest work. Mr. Verloc, the spy, is roused to action by his masters. He is to instigate an act ‘of destructive ferocity so absurd as to be incomprehensible, inexplicable, and almost unthinkable; in fact, mad’. All does not run smoothly however and leads to Mr Verloc’s wife, Winnie, demonstrating how quickly rational equilibrium can change to frenzied destruction.

The Secret Agent was one of the first espionage novels ever written, and it is certainly one of the finest in the oeuvre of Joseph Conrad. The story concerns the attempt by a group of back-alley revolutionaries to destroy one of London's most famous landmarks and thereby set off a revolution.

Explore the depths of self-reflection in Mirror of the Sea, a captivating collection of autobiographical essays penned between 1904 and 1906. Originally published in various magazines, these insightful writings invite readers on a personal journey through the authors experiences and contemplations.

Sadness can be about so many things from places to people, from thoughts to actions. Our classic authors including Arnold Bennett, James Joyce, Willa Cather, Joseph Conrad, Ivan Turgenev and many others use their pens and stories to demonstrate the many ways this feeling can take a hold of lives and its consequences.

Heart of Darkness (1899) is a novella by the Polish-English novelist Joseph Conrad, about a voyage up the Congo River into the Belgian Congo in the Heart of Africa. Charles Marlow, the narrator, tells his story to friends aboard a boat anchored on the River Thames. The story is based on a journey that Conrad took up the Congo River in 1890, during King Leopold II of Belgium’s abusive rule of the area. It exposes the cruelty that the author observed during his visit to the area.

This audiobook is a new edition of Joseph Conrad's classic tale of terror along the Congo River, Heart of Darkness. Named one of the 100 best English novels by Modern Library. This audiobook is expertly narrated by Marcus Freeman.

"Youth" is an autobiographical short story by Joseph Conrad. It was written in 1898, first published in Blackwood's Magazine, and included as the first story in the 1902 volume "Youth, a Narrative, and Two Other Stories". The volume also included "Heart of Darkness" and "The End of the Tether", which are concerned with maturity and old age, respectively. "Youth" depicts a young man's first journey to the East.

Four gripping tales by the master of Adventure Stories, Joseph Conrad. "The Tale", "The Inn of the Two Witches", "The Secret Sharer", "The Idiots".

Dive into a world where the lives of three sailing captains unfold, each story revealing the tension between the sea and the land. In A Smile of Fortune, a naive young sea captain finds himself in deep moral trouble after clashing with a cunning ship chandler in Mauritius. Meanwhile, in The Secret Sharer, a newly appointed captain encounters an unexpected challenge when he discovers a mysterious weight on his rope ladder one fateful evening. Lastly, Freya of the Seven Isles tells the tale of Jasper Allen, a captain caught in a romantic whirlwind, blissfully unaware of the rivalry posed by an ...

The Shadow-Line, a poignant tribute to Joseph Conrads son who was wounded in World War I, is a captivating short novel set against the backdrop of the sea. Written between February and December of 1915 and first published in 1916, this novella explores the transformative journey of a young man who steps into the role of captain in the Orient. The titles shadow line symbolizes the pivotal moment of his growth and maturity. With its unique dual narrative structure, the full title—The Shadow-Line, A Confession—hints at the reflective nature of the story. The tension between the unnamed young ...

Join an unflappable old sea captain and his crew of two hundred Chinese laborers as they navigate the stormy seas of a terrifying typhoon for the very first time. Meanwhile, an émigré Austrian peasant named Yanko washes ashore on an English beach, only to face the cold shoulder of a local community that finds his foreign ways unsettling. Through persistence, he gradually earns a sliver of respect. Captain Falk, who seems to be part man and part tugboat, finds himself hopelessly in love with a beautiful young woman, but a tricky dilemma stands in the way of their happiness. And then theres a ...

In this captivating novella, an older man reflects on the complex interplay of personal desires and uncanny coincidences that shaped his challenging journey as a young ships officer. He navigates the elusive shadow line that divides the carefree days of youth from the weight of adult responsibilities. Join him as he unravels a profound transition that many can relate to. - Summary by Peter Dann

In this gripping seafaring novella, the crew aboard ships confronts the relentless forces of nature. As they navigate treacherous waters, the narrative unfolds into a profound exploration of human resilience, emotional turmoil, and the far-reaching consequences on social and spiritual existence. - Summary by Anthony Ogus

In this captivating prequel to Almayers Folly, Joseph Conrad delves into the roots of the factional tensions that shape the social dynamics of Sambir, a small settlement on the Pantai River in Borneo. The story revolves around Captain Tom Lingard, a swashbuckling yet somewhat naive freebooter who has long involved himself in the political intrigues of the Malacca Straits, driven by a mix of opportunism and altruism. Lingard has previously appointed Kaspar Almayer as his protégé at a remote trading post in Sambir. When he learns that another former protégé, Peter Willems, is on the verge of...

Step into a world shaped by history and imagination in Tales of Hearsay. Join a reflective and romantic young Russian officer during the era of Napoleon as he faces a daunting request. Travel to 1868, where an adventurous Polish boy meets a prince and discovers that reality often defies fantasy. Experience the tension aboard a British ship in the North Sea during the Great War as the captain confronts a neutral vessel whose leader may not be as innocent as he claims. Finally, dive into the troubled life of a sailing ship officer in the 1880s, trapped under the oppressive rule of a captain ...

In this captivating collection, a brave Malay chieftain confronts an unexpected vulnerability, while a farmers wife, haunted by her past, vows to bear no more children. A novice ivory trader experiences a profound moment of self-discovery with just a spoonful of sugar. Meanwhile, a pompous man is rocked by the revelation that his wife has eloped with another. Deep within a secluded and eerie lagoon, a Malay harbors a troubling secret. Tales of Unrest marks Joseph Conrads first volume of short fiction published during his lifetime, weaving together narratives that echo the landscapes of his ...

Set against the backdrop of the South Pacific during the Napoleonic era, Within The Tides follows a self-important English philosopher and his stunningly aloof daughter as they embark on a voyage to clear the name of her wrongly accused fiancé. However, their journey takes an unexpected turn when they encounter a mysterious silk planter with ulterior motives for the beautiful yet dangerously naive daughter. Along the way, a patent medicine salesman teams up with an honest but struggling ship owner, leading to unforeseen complications. A young British naval officer faces a chilling experience ...