Works of Joseph Conrad
For those of us who ever tried to indulge seriously into the realm of English literature, Joseph Conrad is a name that surely came up. A Polish-British writer, Conrad is regarded as one of the greatest novelists of the English language. One of his most popular works is ‘Heart of Darkness’, published in 1902. The novel examines the horrors of Western colonialism, depicting it as a phenomenon that tarnishes not only the lands and peoples it exploits but also those in the West who advance it.
Though Conrad is best known for ‘Heart of Darkness’, there are many other works by him that deserve (if not more) equal attention. Here is a look at some other fascinating and must-read works by him.
An Outcast of the Islands (1896)
It is the second novel by Conrad and is inspired by Conrad's experience as mate of a steamer, the Vidar. It details the undoing of Peter Willems, a disreputable, immoral man who, on the run from a scandal in Makassar, finds refuge in a hidden native village, only to betray his benefactors over lust for the tribal chief's daughter.
Pic credit: Amazon
Lord Jim (1900)
The novel is set in the Malay Archipelago and not only provides a gripping account of maritime adventure and romance, but also an exotic tale of the East. It explores the dilemmas of conscience, of moral isolation, of loyalty and betrayal confronting a sensitive individual.
Pic credit: Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
Nostromo (1904)
The novel revolves around Nostromo, who is the only man capable of the decisive action needed to save the silver of the San tome mine and secure independence for Sulaco, an imaginary port. The book seeks to answer the question of whether Nostromo will be able to succeed at this task, or will he fall victim to his machinations?
Pic credit: Rupa and Co
The Secret Agent (1907)
It is the only novel by Conrad set in London. It communicates a deeply ironic view of human doings. The story is knit around an attack on the Greenwich Observatory in 1894 masterminded by Verloc, a Russian spy working for the police, and apparently a member of an anarchist group in Soho.
Pic credit: Penguin
Under Western Eyes (1911)
This gripping novel skillfully depicts the political chaos of nineteenth-century Russia and follows the dramatic developments in the life of a student, Razumov, as he prepares for a career in the Czarist bureaucracy.
Pic credit: Dover Publications Inc.
Start a Conversation
Post comment