Conrad is always remarkable.

But this short story is even more so as Conrad manages to extract a poignant, intense, piercing narration from a manner similar to that of some of his weakest and most tiresome works (think "Fate").

The style is particularly ponderous, the action basically non-existent. Every minor sensation and movement is scrutinized in agonizing detail. Mannerism? Ersatz moral weight for an over-loaded inquiry of the tiniest changes of some bourgeois souls? Yes, and one longs for some action, some open sea, some real drama.

But but. This story, which could be easily titled The (Re)Birth of a Pharisee, overcomes all those potential pitfalls by making the moral epiphany of the main character an event both memorable and authentic.

At the beginning, Alvan is the epitome of Victorian correctness, empty detachment, and blind belief in all that is right and proper, a paragon of fully external mores. For all his empty righteousness and aridity, though, we slowly learn that he is -- surprisingly -- not your typical hypocrite: he truly believes in the superficial, empty values he practices.

So when his wife first announces she is leaving him, shattering their perfect life of bourgeois propriety and opulence, and then unexpectedly comes back because her resolve falters, Alvan's first reaction is to pretend nothing has happened. His callousness further convinces his wife (whose half-hearted attempt at escape into something more authentic was, it too, a mere literary pretense) that they will henceforth lead a life of purely pretended happiness and normality.

But then... well, then something new and different and unexpected happens. It is truly worth reading to discover what that something is and how it transforms Alvan and their relationship.

A remarkably modern-sounding item, especially when considering it dates back to 1897.

The introduction mentions that it was influenced by Ennui James, yet fortunately, the author manages to avoid that overly glutinous style.

The final sentence, in particular, is truly chilling and comes as a surprise.

Moreover, there is not a ship or sea swell in sight, which is quite amazing.

Of course, any ancient treatment of this subject matter is likely to seem a bit antique and reminiscent of silent movies.

However, in this instance, it really wasn't bad at all.

It all seemed rather natural, and Lord knows I've witnessed a great deal worse.

This piece from 1897 has managed to hold up relatively well, offering a unique perspective that still has the power to engage and surprise readers even today.

In a peaceful kingdom where noble emotions are nurtured abundantly, to cover the cruel materialism of thoughts and ambitions. There, among people who endured the most absurd clichés of logic and thinking, basing everything only on useful facts, a crystalline world that only容纳 those who are wise in artificial happiness and completely indifferent to any ambiguity regarding the ethical propriety of their existence.

There, in the middle, lived the couple of our story. A story with a happy beginning but without the possibility of a revival of a true coexistence.

It was a couple of conspirators who studied each other, suspiciously, silently, because the plan they had made clear had to be profitable. There was no room for emotions, values, principles, facts of kinship or faith. Only the impact that it would have on their own dignity, reward, on their own personal advantages.

They were hand in hand but passed by life. They lived in atmospheres of thick and impenetrable ice that maintained their falsehood, their hatred, the light hue of their annoyingly excessive bestiality. Every ray of sunshine, every warm summer breeze they hated and naturally ignored the deep and dark, the hard and cruel current of life. A life that boiled deep from eroded suns of longing and love.

Thus, victim and victimizer, master and slave, owner and property changed roles but were always basic characteristics in this couple that when one of the two would decide to escape, to flee, he would have to have the terrible power to call upon fate to descend to earth and change the fate and course. To convince the world that solitude and silence are the greatest happiness of humanity.

So suddenly the glassy world of Alban Herby is shattered by the attack of masked evil thoughts, ambiguities, illusions and prejudices that were secretly running his being with hidden haste to commit a crime.

A sign of exploitative farewell was enough to leave a handful of dust in the place of his heart. The miasma of fear, pain, abandonment, lost property that he had in the body of the woman and although passion did not have a primary role. His longing was lukewarm, it had fallen asleep the sleep of habit, of security, of false hope for a typical eternity. His love was predictably mediocre. For Alban, pleasure, carnal enjoyment, lust and the passion of sexual act were hidden in his reluctant existential identity. He was a husband, a family man, prosperous, typical, noble, minimally generous, somewhat sympathetic and quite willing for concerns of social advancement, but he was no longer a lover, he was not a man who dominated the mind and body of the woman, he was not blind from longing, a fool from pleasure and crazy from the corruption of the sick, shameful and vulgar, love of the orgasmic bestiality.

Because he had lost her. Because these thoughts were tearing his nerves, suddenly shattering his integrity, leaving him unarmed and helpless in a war he was losing hopelessly.

He could not clearly distinguish between what is and what should be, between the unacceptable truth and the acceptable hypocrisy.

He knew that the truth would not seem at all useful to him, now that the abandonment had hit him coldly and had brought him a paroxysm of rabid anger.

He was aware, he knew that being shocked by a hidden and violent blow, he could not resist, retaliate and forget.

His wound was nourishing him with satisfaction of pain and despair, destruction, agony and excitement, intense excitement to the point of tears, and although men do not cry, they shed them silently under the light of a lightning bolt, memories, jealousy, mental chaos, all the infinity of pain could finally be contained in a momentary human thought.

He lost the given woman of his life because of the evils of the devil, the paths of humanity are flooded with fear and murder and then you stop pitying yourself and understand that the infinite companionship of God finally stopped or perhaps never existed, empirically and willing to hold the ancestral instincts of the enjoyment of the flesh chained, down, deep, in the impenetrable darkness of our chest.

Alban goes through all the stages of inner and outer turmoil and collapses. Hours and times he paralyzes, goes crazy, talks nonsense, firmly and irreversibly crushes the illusions of his selfish dreams.

His wife returns the same night, prostrate, lethargic, almost invisible as a being but the power of her presence dominates the deceived husband who tries with endoscopic and retroactive philosophical research to redeem himself and the humanity that is reflected in the images of himself from betrayal, injustice and vanity. His vanity explodes and burns every way of forgiveness, his sick jealousy extinguishes every spark of trust. He cannot tolerate the ambiguity, the lie, the envious belief of deception and exploitation.

He seeks the truth and doubts it in every manifestation of it.

This is a truly shocking story about inner existential research in a world frozen, indifferent and absurdly cold.

The story was completed in 1897 and published for the eternity of every modern era.

The words of that time disturb every human soul when hearing among the ethical platitudes of the sermon about dignity and self-esteem that cliché successful expression of his:

"I loved you very much." Then she tells him from the depths of her humiliated heart that if he believed that he loved her, that she was not beside him like an object of social appreciation, if he really loved her, he would never return...

The reason is obvious and eliminates every reason and pretext for traitorous, humiliating actions, for truths that did not believe in human relationships or for unbeliefs that were not betrayed by the protection of the institutions and turned their backs on the warm embrace of comradeship.

Conrad presents a different account, yet one that masterfully reflects the end of love when only one person loves.
This is a small book, easy to read.

\\"The placidity of truth and the peace of death can only be guaranteed through a magnificent disdain that embraces all the useful subjections of life. He was as if numbed by the fascination of the incomprehensible.\\"
In this story, Conrad delves deep into the complex emotions and dynamics of a relationship that has reached its breaking point. The protagonist finds himself in a state of confusion and detachment, unable to fully understand the forces at play.
The short and simple nature of the book makes it accessible to a wide range of readers, yet it still manages to convey profound insights into the human condition. Through his vivid descriptions and poignant dialogue, Conrad brings the characters and their experiences to life, leaving the reader with a sense of both sadness and enlightenment.

I have a profound admiration for Joseph Conrad's writing style. It has a certain allure and charm that can draw readers in.

However, when it comes to this particular story, it just seemed to be lacking that certain something. There was a sense of incompleteness or perhaps a missing element that could have elevated it to a higher level.

Nonetheless, it was still an interesting piece of work. It had its moments that held my attention and made me want to keep reading.

I would definitely not classify this as a novel. It had more of the characteristics of a short story. It was concise and to the point, yet it still managed to convey a certain message or emotion.

Overall, while this story may not have been a masterpiece in my eyes, it still had its merits and was worth reading for those who appreciate Conrad's writing.

The saving grace for this novella was its brevity.

It could be finished in barely an evening's read, yet it was tiresome all the same.

The main character was quite unlikeable. He was both puzzled and disappointed by his wife's decision to leave him. What's more, he felt insulted that she should convey the message by a letter left on their dressing table. He was truly a selfish man.

After her unexpected return, they attempt to come to terms with what it means for their future and what it reveals about their past.

However, I'd highly recommend giving this a miss and going straight to "The Heart of Darkness" instead. That work offers a much more profound and engaging exploration of the human condition and the mysteries of the world. It is a classic that will leave a lasting impression on the reader, unlike this rather lackluster novella.

Si, que se yo...

This statement seems to express a certain degree of uncertainty or lack of clear knowledge. It makes one wonder what exactly the person is referring to.

Toca temas de esa época interentes, pero la vdad no me pareció nada wouw. It touches on interesting topics of that era, but the truth didn't seem all that wow to me. This shows that while the topics may have been engaging, the actual substance or revelation might not have been as impressive as expected.

Sí debo decir que la manera de escribir es para aplaudir. Aunque en esta historia, sentí que muchas veces se decía lo mismo pero de diferentes formas... Indeed, I must say that the writing style is praiseworthy. However, in this story, I felt that many times the same thing was being said but in different ways. This could potentially lead to a sense of repetition and make the reading experience a bit less engaging.

Me desesperó no saber lo que realmente había pasado, but i guess that was the point. It frustrated me not to know what really happened, but I guess that was the point. This final sentence highlights the author's sense of frustration at the lack of clarity or resolution in the story. At the same time, it also suggests that perhaps the ambiguity was intentional, adding an element of mystery or thought-provokingness to the narrative.

Overall, this piece of writing offers some interesting insights and reflections on a particular topic or story, while also highlighting some of the challenges and limitations of the writing itself.

I'm sure I'm way in the minority here, but I found this to be an extremely difficult read.

Conrad, in this work, reveals some truly profound truths about the human condition. However, the writing style presents a significant challenge. There are a plethora of long sentences filled with rather complex and perhaps overly fancy words.

Many of these sentences seem as if they are strung together in a somewhat random manner. For instance, the phrase "The spiritual and tragic contest of her feelings" leaves one scratching their head, wondering what it could possibly mean.

It's as if Conrad is trying to convey his deep thoughts in a way that is almost too convoluted for the average reader to fully grasp. While the underlying ideas may be worthy of exploration, the presentation makes it a rather arduous task.

Perhaps with more careful dissection and analysis, one could begin to unlock the true meaning and significance hidden within these complex sentences and phrases. But for now, it remains a difficult and somewhat frustrating read.

I was strongly recommended this story by my sister and I really liked it. It might seem a bit different from Joseph Conrad's usual topics. However, we once again have the universal incarnated in the figure of the individual. I love the way one is carried through a tumult of deep feelings that take you to the very edge of existence.

The relationships between husband and wife go further and are transported to the ones among all beings within an apparently perfect society. But once you face the verges of your own existence, it becomes suffocating and unbearable. The discovery of what real humanity is will not let you be the same again.

This story is highly recommendable. It makes you think deeply about human nature and relationships. It shows how in a seemingly perfect world, there can still be hidden turmoil and struggles. It takes you on an emotional journey that you won't forget. So, if you're looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read, I would definitely recommend this story.

Solid, intense and bitterly truthful, this article presents a powerful and unwavering perspective.

It delves deep into the subject matter, leaving no stone unturned. The author's words are like a hammer, striking with force and precision.

Each sentence is carefully crafted to convey the essence of the message, without any sugarcoating or false pretenses.

The intensity of the writing grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning and holds it until the end.

It makes you think, question, and reflect on the harsh realities of life.

The truth may be bitter, but it is essential for growth and understanding.

This article does not shy away from the truth, but rather embraces it with open arms.

It is a refreshing and bold piece of writing that challenges the status quo and encourages us to look at the world in a different light.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone who is seeking a solid, intense, and brutally honest take on a particular topic.

A Masterpiece.

Coming from a conservative environment that is very similar to the one he describes, I can truly relate to a story like this. It is truly remarkable how he is able to capture the essence and details with such precision and accuracy. His insights are astonishing and offer a profound understanding of the human condition.

This work should be a required reading for every human being, just like everything else from Conrad. Conrad's writing has the power to transport readers to different worlds and make them see things from a new perspective.

His ability to create complex and vivid characters, along with his masterful use of language, makes his works a joy to read. This particular piece is no exception and is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who takes the time to read it.

It is a testament to Conrad's genius and his place in the literary canon.

Delicious Descriptions

Food has the power to tantalize our taste buds and transport us to a world of pure pleasure.

When we encounter a delicious dish, it's not just about the taste, but also the way it is described.

A well-crafted description can make our mouths water and heighten our anticipation.

For example, a juicy steak might be described as "a succulent cut of meat, grilled to perfection, with a crispy exterior and a tender, juicy interior."

Or a decadent chocolate cake could be described as "a rich, moist chocolate sponge, layered with smooth ganache and topped with a dollop of whipped cream."

These descriptions not only paint a vivid picture in our minds but also engage our senses and make us eager to experience the food for ourselves.

So the next time you encounter a delicious dish, take a moment to appreciate the delicious descriptions that brought it to life.