Published in 1917, this semi-autobiographical novel by Conrad marked his return later in his career to the themes and settings of his early works. A young captain’s first command brings him aboard a seemingly cursed or haunted ship, which quickly becomes becalmed, leading to the psychological breakdown of the first mate and rising tensions among the crew.
A propos de l’auteur
Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), born the son of a noble Polish family as Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, rechristened himself with his pen name. He became one of the greatest prose stylists and novelists in the English language. A precursor to modernist literature, he mined his experiences in the French and British navies to create tragic tales that simultaneously delve into worldwide issues and the individual soul.