The Greatest Books: Written by Joseph Conrad

The Best Joseph Conrad Novels – Interesting Literature

The Best Books by Joseph Conrad - Athenaeum Review

📚 Don't miss the top 3 Joseph Conrad books › 2022

The tale revolves around a man named Marlow, an introspective mariner, who embarks on a voyage up the Congo River to connect with Kurtz, a man known for his lofty ideals and impressive capabilities. Marlow is employed as a riverboat captain for a Belgian company with business interests in Congo. Throughout his journey to Africa and up the river, Marlow experiences first-hand the haphazard operations and barbaric treatment meted out by the company's officials to the local inhabitants, who are enslaved and horribly mistreated. The savage reality of colonialism is heightened by the serene and vast jungle surrounding the European settlements, making them seem like tiny specks amidst a sea of darkness.

Upon reaching the Central Station, managed by a scheming man, Marlow discovers his steamship has been sunk and spends months waiting for parts to repair it, during which his curiosity about Kurtz intensifies. The manager and his associate, the brickmaker, appear threatened by Kurtz. Rumours of Kurtz's ill-health add to the urgency of repairing the ship. Once the ship is repaired, Marlow, the manager, a few agents whom Marlow refers to as pilgrims due to their peculiar habit of carrying lengthy wooden staves, and a crew of cannibals embark on a strenuous journey up the river. The thick jungle and the deafening silence unsettle everyone on board, with occasional sights of native villages or the sound of drums inciting the pilgrims into a frenzy.

Marlow and his crew discover a hut with firewood stacked high and a note warning them to proceed with caution. After collecting the firewood, their ship is engulfed by a dense fog, and once it dissipates, they are ambushed by an invisible group of natives from the safety of the forest. Despite losing their African helmsman, Marlow manages to scare the natives off using the ship's steam whistle. They reach Kurtz's Inner Station, expecting to find him dead, but instead, they are met by a slightly deranged Russian trader who assures them that all is well. The trader reveals that Kurtz has elevated his consciousness and thus, can't be judged by regular morals. Kurtz has established himself as a deity amongst the natives and frequently raids the nearby regions for ivory. His ruthless methods are evident from the severed heads decorating the fence posts around the station. Kurtz's deteriorating health forces them to bring him aboard the steamer, and Marlow learns from the Russian that Kurtz had planned the earlier attack on the ship to make them think he was dead and interrupt his plans. Marlow finds Kurtz crawling towards the native camp and persuades him to return. Kurtz entrusts Marlow with his personal documents, including a pamphlet on civilizing the savages, ironically ending with "Exterminate all the brutes!" Despite attempts to repair the ship, Kurtz dies en route, uttering "The horror! The horror!" Marlow falls ill but survives and returns to Europe to visit Kurtz's grieving fiancée, unable to share the harsh reality of Kurtz's life and death.

Heart of Darkness

Corazón de Tinieblas

The narrative follows the life of Jim, a promising young seaman who ascends swiftly through the ranks to become a chief mate. Jim dreams of heroism and adventure, nurtured by his fondness for maritime literature, but has never contended with tangible danger. His test arrives when the ship he is aboard, the Patna, transporting Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, hits an underwater obstacle and starts to take on water. Panicked by an approaching storm, the crew, including Jim, deserts the ship and leaves its passengers to their fate. The Patna, however, survives the incident and the crew faces a formal inquest by their peers. It is during this process that Jim loses his officer's certification and first crosses paths with Marlow.

Marlow, recognizing a kindred spirit or perhaps seeing his own fears reflected in Jim, forms an uneasy friendship with him. Through Marlow's connections, Jim finds work but is unable to escape his past. Every mention of the Patna incident sends him fleeing, necessitating Marlow's assistance. Eventually, with the aid of Stein, an expatriate trader, Jim is appointed as the manager of a trading post in the isolated region of Patusan. Captured initially by one of the local factions, Jim manages to escape and finally earns his heroic status by defeating a local bandit. He subsequently falls in love with Jewel, the half-native stepdaughter of the previous post manager, and becomes the spiritual leader of the Patusan people, entrusted with maintaining order and justice.

However, his past resurfaces once more with the arrival of Gentleman Brown, a pirate, and his crew seeking supplies. In the ensuing conflict, Brown retreats to a hilltop. Cornelius, Jewel's stepfather and Jim's predecessor, resentful of Jim's success, enters into a conspiracy with Brown and a group of dissatisfied Patusan locals. Unaware of this plot, Jim lets Brown leave peacefully. Led by Cornelius, Brown launches an attack, killing Dain Waris, Jim's closest ally's son. Realizing that he cannot outrun his past, Jim, despite Jewel's pleas, confronts Doramin, the bereaved father, who ultimately kills him. All these events and the life of Jim are painstakingly pieced together by Marlow, who later shares the account with a group of friends, leaving the story unfinished until the events fully unfold.

7 Best Joseph Conrad Books of All Time

Heart of Darkness

Lord Jim

Under Western Eyes

The Secret Agent

Nostromo

The Shadow-Line

A Confession

An Outcast of the Islands

Sources

What To Read Next

7 Best Joseph Conrad Books of All Time

Heart of Darkness

Lord Jim

Under Western Eyes

The Secret Agent

Nostromo

The Shadow-Line

A Confession

An Outcast of the Islands

Sources

What To Read Next

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