The Nigger Of The "Narcissus": A Tale Of The Forecastle

Joseph Conrad

Sep 2022 · DigiCat

About this ebook

The Nigger of the "Narcissus": A Tale of the Forecastle (sometimes subtitled A Tale of the Sea), first published in the United States as The Children of the Sea, is an 1897 novella by Joseph Conrad published in the United Kingdom. The central character is an Afro-Caribbean man who is ill at sea while aboard the trading ship Narcissus heading towards London.

About the author

Joseph Conrad, born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski on December 3, 1857, in Berdychiv, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire, was a Polish-British writer renowned for his narrative style and deep explorations of the human condition. His maritime experiences greatly influenced his writing, as he spent several years at sea. Conrad's writing is marked by its rich prose, intricate character development, and acute psychological insight. His linguistic prowess is striking, given that English was his third language, after his native Polish and French. 'The Nigger Of The "Narcissus": A Tale Of The Forecastle' (1897) is among his impactful works, offering a vivid account of life aboard a ship and human solidarity in the face of nature's adversities. Thematically, the novel investigates issues of racial prejudice, human existence, and natural forces, characteristic of Conrad's darkly evocative and morally complex narrative approach. Conrad's other notable works include 'Heart of Darkness' (1899), 'Lord Jim' (1900), and 'Nostromo' (1904), each of which further secures his place as a central figure in the canon of English literature. He is often noted for his early modernist tendencies and is celebrated for influencing numerous writers through his exploration of the abysses of the human psyche and the ambiguities of moral certitude. Joseph Conrad passed away on August 3, 1924, in Bishopsbourne, Kent, England, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to resonate with and challenge readers and writers alike.