Conrad's Western World

by Norman Sherry

• ISBN13: 9780521298087
• ISBN10: 0521298083
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1980-06-30
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Conrad's Western World traces the sources of Heart of Darkness, Nostromo, The Secret Agent and some of the short stories related to these novels. As in his highly acclaimed Conrad's Eastern World, Professor Sherry provides an interesting blend of biographical reconstruction and investigation into the originals of the main incidents and characters - Kurtz, Nostromo, Verloc and many of the minor figures as well. It has been possible to show in the study of Conrad's source material a movement away from analyses of personal experience or the narrated experiences of others to a manipulation of material entirely outside the bounds of his own experience. This change reveals also a movement in interest from personal and private dilemmas to wider and more public concerns, and shows Conrad developing a progressive sense of the frightening underside of human society. Finally, Professor Sherry considers the play of Conrad's mind over his source material and traces the development of individual works from the given sources to the completed fiction. This reconstruction of Conrad's original materials and the tracing of their development into literary works of great distinction gives us a unique insight into Conrad's preoccupations and art.

Table of Contents

Illustrations

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part I. Heart of Darkness: 1. The fascination of Africa

2. The death of Freiesleben

3. Bordeaux to Boma

4. The company station - Matadi

5. Matadi to Kinchassa - the central station

6. Kinchassa to Stanley Falls

7. Stanley Falls - the heart of darkness

8. Klein

9. The journey down-river

10. Kurtz

11. Henry Morton Stanley - the Yawl Nellie

12. 'An Outpost of Progress'

Part II. Nostromo: 13. 'Gaspar Ruiz'

14. The garibaldino

15. Nostromo and Decoud

16. Sir John and 'Material Interests'

17. Dr Monygham and Don José

Avellanos

18. Costaguana and Sulaco

Part III. The Secret Agent: 19. 'The Informer'

20. 'An Anarchist'

21. The bomb outrage

22. The anarchists

23. Karl Yundt

24. Michaelis

25. The professor

26. Law and order: Sir Ethelred and the Home Secretary

27. The assistant commissioner

28. Chief Inspector Heat

29. Verloc

30. A. P. Krieger - a speculation

31. Conclusion

Appendices

Notes, Index.