Part of a major series of new editions of Conrad's most famous works in Penguin Classics, this volume contains a chronology, further reading, notes, glossaries and an introduction discussing the background, themes and narrative technique of each story. A wonderful volume of Conrad's short fiction, reissued alongside the new film The Secret Sharer. This volume of Conrad's short works explores a vast array of human experience in a variety of settings across the globe, from the sea to the colonial world, from the Far East and Africa to Europe. 'The Nigger of the "Narcissus"' shows life on the 'small planet' of a ship threatened by storms and anarchy, while 'Youth' and 'The Secret Sharer' portray men at sea confronting turning points in their lives. 'The Informer' reveals anarchy and activism in London, 'Il Conde' depicts a secret double life in Naples and 'The Duel' dramatizes conflicts and obsession in Napoleon's army. All show Conrad to be a continuously experimental writer, ranging across time and place and constantly reinventing the nature of storytelling. This volume includes- - The Nigger of the 'Narcissus' - Youth, A Narrative - The Secret Sharer - The Lagoon - An Outpost of Progress - The Idiots - The Informer - Il Conde - The Duel

Author Biography

Joseph Conrad (originally J zef Teodor Konrad Nalecz Korzeniowski) was born in the Ukraine in 1857 and grew up under Tsarist autocracy. His parents, ardent Polish patriots, died when he was a child, following their exile for anti-Russian activities, and he came under the protection of his tradition-conscious uncle, Thaddeus Bobrowski, who watched over him for the next twenty-five years.In 1874 Bobrowski conceded to his nephew's passionate desire to go to sea, and Conrad travelled to Marseilles, where he served in French merchant vessels before joining a British ship in 1878 as an apprentice.In 1886 he obtained British nationality and his Master's certificate in the British Merchant Service. Eight years later he left the sea to devote himself to writing, publishing his first novel, Almayer's Folly, in 1895. The following year he married Jessie George and eventually settled in Kent, where he produced within fifteen years such modern classics as Youth, Heart of Darkness, Lord Jim, Typhoon, Nostromo, The Secret Agent and Under Western Eyes.He continued to write until his death in 1924. Today Conrad is generally regarded as one of the greatest writers of fiction in English - his third language. He once described himself as being concerned 'with the ideal value of things, events and people'; in the Preface to The Nigger of the 'Narcissus' he defined his task as 'by the power of the written word ... before all, to make you see'.