Name: Nostromo
Author: Joseph Conrad
ISBN: 9780199555918

Nostromo

Joseph Conrad

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Author Description

One of the greatest political novels in any language, Nostromo reenacts the establishment of modern capitalism in a remote South American province locked between the Andes and the Pacific. In the harbor town of Sulaco, a vivid cast of characters is caught up in a civil war to decide whether its fabulously wealthy silver mine, funded by American money but owned by a third-generation English immigrant, can be preserved from the hands of venal politicians. Greed and corruption seep into the lives of everyone, and Nostromo, the principled foreman of the mine, is tested to the limit.Conrad's evocation of Latin America--its grand landscapes, the ferocity of its politics, and the tenacity of individuals swept up in imperial ambitions--has never been bettered. This edition features a new introduction with fresh historical and interpretative perspectives, as well as detailed explanatory notes which pay special attention to the literary, political, historical, and geographical allusions and implications of the novel. A map, a chronology of the narrative, a glossary of foreign terms, and an appendix reprinting the serial ending all complement what is sure to be the definitive edition of this classic work.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

The discovery of a massive silver mine in the fictional South American province of Costaguana triggers a volatile struggle for power, wealth, and national identity. The narrative follows Nostromo, an incorruptible foreman of the San Tomé mine, as he becomes entangled in the political machinations of Sulaco during a violent civil war. Conrad employs a complex, non-linear structure to examine how the influx of foreign capital and imperial interests destabilizes the local social order. The story functions as a study of human fallibility, where the characters' personal integrity is systematically eroded by the weight of greed and the shifting tides of revolution.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Non-linear narrative structure that shifts across different time periods
Detailed exploration of the psychological impact of material wealth
Vivid, atmospheric descriptions of the South American landscape
Examination of the intersection between personal honor and political corruption
Use of an omniscient narrator to provide multiple perspectives on the conflict
Focus on the influence of foreign imperialism on local governance
Character-driven study of the titular figure's moral decline
Integration of historical and geographical allusions to ground the fictional setting

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Discussion often centers on the novel's dense, intricate prose style and its ambitious scope in depicting the mechanics of political upheaval. Readers frequently highlight the effectiveness of Conrad's world-building, noting how the fictional province of Costaguana serves as a microcosm for global capitalist expansion. Critics often analyze the moral ambiguity of the characters, particularly the transformation of the protagonist from a man of action to one consumed by his own secrets. The balance between the slow-burning political tension and the eventual collapse of the social order remains a frequent topic of academic inquiry. Many readers appreciate the depth of the character studies, even as they acknowledge the challenging nature of the non-linear timeline.

Page Count:
496

Publication Date:
2009-11-02

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199555915

ISBN-13:
9780199555918

Adventure

Latin America

classic

Literary

Historical

Sea Stories

Fiction political