Conrad's Western 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.

Norman Sherry (Author)

9780521298087, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 12 June 1980

480 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.7 cm, 0.61 kg

'In his Introduction to this new study of Conrad's autobiographical and literary sources, Professor Sherry relates it specifically to his earlier and justly celebrated volume Conrad's Eastern World. It must be said straight away that the new book sustains the high level of detective prowess of its predecessor; one is constantly fascinated and sometimes astonished by what Professor Sherry is able to reveal.' Critical Quarterly

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.

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.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH]