\\"Lord Jim\\", by Joseph Conrad, tells the story of a decent man who had to make a split-second decision between doing the right thing or being a coward. He chose cowardice. As an officer, he abandoned a ship that was sinking, filled with pilgrims bound for the Holy Land. Due to this act, he spends the rest of his life trying to atone for that moment of error, in an exercise of self-reparation, remorse, and self-doubt.

Rejected by all, unable to do what he loved most, which was to travel by sea, he became bitter and dark. He wandered like a madman, fleeing from one place to another.

Finally, with the help of his friend Marlow, he manages to get a job as the head of Stein's factory and departs for Patusan, a remote place in the East Indies. At first, he is regarded with suspicion by the natives, but he becomes popular by bringing down a local criminal. He marries a local girl and, after two or three years, feels that he has regained his self-respect and rid himself of the shame of the shipwreck incident.

However, Brown, an English criminal looter who stole a ship and ran out of supplies, sails to Patusan and decides to loot the island where Jim lives peacefully... Only by reading the book to know what happens from there.

What a sensational book! Although it is tiring and demands a lot from the reader, Joseph Conrad's narrative style is unrivaled. It is the third book by the author that I have the pleasure of reading. I recommend it to everyone.

I picked up a used book last week titled 'In Search of Conrad', and to my surprise, I found it utterly fascinating. It kindled in me a desire to explore the works of Conrad, an author I had only briefly touched upon before. His books are set in various locations such as Malaysia, Borneo, and Singapore. As I delved into this travel book, I couldn't help but reach for an atlas. The area described in the book intrigued me to no end. I'm almost done with it, and now I'm starting to read another based on a true incident mentioned within its pages.

The original Jim was the second mate on a steamer carrying 1000 pilgrims from Malaysia to Mecca, probably around 1888. When the ship encountered bad weather, Jim, along with the captain and some crew members, abandoned the ship, leaving the passengers to face the sinking vessel. They then told the authorities in Aden that the ship had sunk and they had to abandon it because the passengers had attacked them, which was far from the truth. A couple of days later, the ship and the passengers arrived in Aden as well. The passengers had managed to save the ship themselves by baling out the water. As a result, Jim and his mates were publicly disgraced. For some strange reason, I found the whole situation rather hilarious.

Anyway, Jim returned to Singapore, got married, had 16 kids, and resumed his old life. This was an act of courage considering that for the rest of his life, everyone associated him with his cowardly action. So, he's a sort of tragic anti-hero, and that's precisely what Conrad's novel is about.

This book, 'In Search of Conrad' by Gavin Young, is truly great. I feel as if I've traversed all over Malaysia and the South China Sea while following the maps. The writing is superbly delicious too. Here's a colorful passage:

At night the Chinese warehouses, higher up, blazed with lanterns that reflected red, orange, and yellow light on the water like dollops of liquid fire.

At night, too, a loom of light arced like a halo over the Town Hall; and lights from the rows of cast-iron lamps with globes of white porcelain like ostrich eggs flickered through the rain trees on the Esplanade.

On the other side of the Esplanade, the long facade of the Hotel de l'Europe was a mass of lights like the flank of a great ocean liner. From the dining room, well-groomed globe-trotters brayed at each other over their iced pudding, while on the terrace, matches flared at the tips of cheroots, revealing white shirt-fronts, and a dead cigar butt arced like a shooting star from where Captain Marlowe sat utterly engrossed, while Jim in matter-of-fact tones gave him the terrible details of the Jeddah affair.

Once, when Jim gave way, bursting out under the pressure of his guilt, 'It is - hell,' a couple of tourists looked up, startled, from their pudding.

For those who have not come into contact with his work, let me clarify that Conrad does not write seafaring adventures nor thrilling stories that will accompany the reader to the beach. Conrad artfully surrounds his work with a first level of action in order to write purely existential stories.

There is a common pattern in his books, which is repeated and constitutes his hallmark: His hero fails to connect with himself, with others, with the world around him. While other writers of that era seek and often find for their heroes redemption in some idea, in some metaphysical and non-fundamental principle, in the brotherhood of like-minded people, of fellow combatants, etc., Conrad does not leave such room for complacency to his characters.

There is no escape from the existential burden, no way out for the hero who has to face the void, the lack of meaning in life, but also the lack of a collective ideology and purpose with his fellow humans. If there is any incentive, any guiding principle, it is that of seeing the world from a distance, of the conscious withdrawal from the actions, from which, however, there is no escape. And the end is always unyielding for the Conradian hero who sees the outside world closing unyieldingly like a circle around him.

I think the above apply to the masterpieces "Nostromo" and "Heart of Darkness" (rightly found on every list that respects itself) as well as to "Lord Jim" - an equally emblematic text, indicative of Conrad's demonic writing, although it is not my personal top choice from his bibliography (let's not forget also the excellent "Victory" and "Under Western Eyes").

I explain: I am a lover of his style, but in this work I believe that the main idea he develops would have been better in the form of a novel and not a long story. I often had the feeling that we were making endless circles around the central theme of the guilt of the central hero, until we were led to the inevitable end. The result is a feeling of fragmentation at times, something that I have very rarely felt so far in the writer's books.

The fact remains that even in the weakest moments of his (if the book in question can be considered as such), Conrad remains an exemplary storyteller.

Yet again, I find myself face to face with a book that is proclaimed as a classic. However, I am completely baffled as to how it achieved such a label.

The narrative within this book is extremely convoluted. It is almost an insurmountable task to follow the storyline. It constantly zigzags in and out of coherency, leaving any sense of clear definition far behind.

Moreover, I was left in a state of confusion regarding the identity of the narrator. At first, I thought it was Jim, but it soon became evident that it was not. Perhaps this was my own fault for not reading the book at a slower pace.

As I neared the end of the book, I must admit that I started to skim through the pages more. I simply could not endure any more of it.

In conclusion, I do not recommend this book to anyone. It fails to engage the reader and leaves more questions than answers.

A heroic tale of cowardice, lol.

I liked this one but it wasn't a home run for me personally.

Jim is a romantic man with many great ideals. However, unfortunately, his tale doesn't conform to reality. The closer he gets to his idea of success, the more perilous his situation becomes. His elevation makes him a perfect target. I guess that explains Marlow's (the narrator) fascination with him and how it might be relevant to all of us in some way.

There were times when I was completely engrossed in the story. The narrative switched back and forth in time, with many different accounts told through a single narrator's voice (and not an omniscient one!). If an old man in a bar was telling me this story, I would slowly edge towards the door, lol.

But I will say that I liked the symbolism of the weather (great storms accompanied both of the significant events).

There were some instances of blatant racism (all the narrating parties seemed convinced that only white people were capable of achieving any victory), and the inhabitants had very real concerns about being colonized near the end.

All in all, I'm not sure if I would read this a second time.

È straordinario come attraversiamo la vita con gli occhi semichiusi, le orecchie insensibili e la mente distratta. E forse è bene che sia così, perché potrebbe essere questa stessa insensibilità a rendere così sopportabile e gradita la vita alla stragrande maggioranza. Tuttavia, sono pochi coloro che non hanno mai vissuto quei momenti di risveglio in cui vediamo, udiamo e comprendiamo tante cose in un lampo, prima di ricadere nella nostra piacevole sonnolenza.

Come in Cuore di tenebra, troviamo Marlow che ci racconta una storia. Ancora una volta, questa storia ha per protagonista un uomo che risale un fiume e si insedia in un villaggio, diventando il punto di riferimento per tutta la popolazione. Ma Jim non ha niente a che spartire con Kurtz. Jim è l'ultimo dei romantici, un giovane uomo con un'animo macchiato da un atto di codardia che non riesce a perdonarsi.

In questa terra sperduta, troverà l'amore, la gloria e in un certo modo anche la sua redenzione, cancellando quella macchia dalla sua anima. Lord Jim è un grande romanzo, anche se forse Conrad si dilunga un po' troppo. Una cosa è certa però, Conrad è uno dei più grandi scrittori di tutti i tempi.

If you were required to summarize your life, a life that was rich and full, you would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible. At least, I couldn't do it with just a casual conversation. It would have to be an all-night affair, engaging in a deep and meaningful dialogue with a group of strangers who, through the sharing of your long and complex story, would gradually become your friends. And that is precisely what "Lord Jim" is all about: it is the summation of a life. A life filled with ethical conflicts, a wrong decision that led to choosing the wrong side, and then being forever burdened with shame and constantly on the run. Jim delved deeper and deeper into his mistakes, moving further and further away from redemption, and being constantly plagued by the consequences of his actions. This is truly a remarkable and great book. It was ahead of its time when it was first published, and yet, it remains timeless, continuing to resonate with readers across generations.

It took me an incredibly long time to complete Lord Jim. It was over a year of grabbing every available chance here and there, like reading a Google Play Books version at the bus stop.

When I finally came across a Penguin Classics paperback in a charity shop, the reading pace went a little quicker, but it still felt like a long journey.

The way the novel is told, with Marlowe as the narrator, really made me think of a Tarantino film. The narrative has a tendency to reach back or deviate from the main flow quite often. Marlowe frequently quotes someone who is in turn quoting another person. This unique style makes the nested quotation marks a truly interesting sea to navigate through.

It's as if the story is constantly twisting and turning, leading the reader on an unpredictable path of discovery.

The complexity of the narrative structure adds an extra layer of depth and intrigue to the already captivating story of Lord Jim.

Overall, my experience of reading this novel has been both challenging and rewarding, and I'm glad I stuck with it until the end.

I have just completed reading "Lord Jim" by Joseph Conrad, which was published in 1900. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked this novel 85th on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. I couldn't help but wonder what book was ranked first. So, I looked it up. There are quite a number of books on that list that I have yet to read, and a few that I had never even heard of before. According to the list, the number one book is "Ulysses" by James Joyce. I must admit that there are very few books that I dislike as much as I do "Ulysses". Therefore, I don't really trust the rest of the list. In my opinion, "Lord Jim" could easily move up the list and take the place of "Ulysses" if it wanted to. Now, let's get back to the book itself.

Our main character, Jim, has a strong desire to go to sea. When his father discovers his vocation for the sea, he is sent to a training-ship for officers of the mercantile marine. He should have taken more classes, as that might have prevented him from being involved in a disaster on the Patna. However, while at school, he is constantly captivated by the sight of the big ships departing, the ferries in constant motion, the little boats floating, the splendor of the sea, and the hope of a thrilling life in the world of adventure. Well, I suppose he got his wish, in a way. While he is at this training school, we are told the following:

On the lower deck, amidst the chaos of two hundred voices, he would lose himself and, in his mind, pre-live the sea-life described in light literature. He imagined himself saving people from sinking ships, cutting away masts in a hurricane, swimming through a surf with a line; or as a lonely castaway, barefoot and half naked, walking on exposed reefs in search of shellfish to stave off starvation. He pictured himself confronting savages on tropical shores, quelling mutinies on the high seas, and in a small boat on the ocean, keeping up the spirits of despairing men—always an example of unwavering devotion to duty, just like a hero in a book.

If I were ever to decide to go to sea to save people, sail in a hurricane, walk on reefs, or confront savages, I would much rather do it all by reading books while sitting comfortably in our family room. After two years of training, Jim sets off to sea, but he quickly discovers that it is not as adventurous as he had imagined. He makes many voyages, acquires a thorough knowledge of his duties, is gentlemanly, steady, and tractable, and eventually becomes the chief mate of a fine ship, all without ever having to save people, swim through a school of sharks, or experience a hurricane. And then, this unfortunate event occurs to poor Jim:

Jim is disabled by a falling spar at the beginning of a week, during which his Scottish captain later remarks, “Man! it’s a perfect miracle to me how she lived through it!” Jim spends many days lying on his back, dazed, battered, hopeless, and tormented, as if at the bottom of an abyss of unrest. He doesn't care what the outcome will be, and in his lucid moments, he overvalues his indifference. The danger, when not visible, has the indistinct vagueness of human thought. The fear becomes shadowy, and imagination, the enemy of men and the father of all terrors, when unstimulated, subsides into rest in the dullness of exhausted emotion. Jim sees nothing but the disorder of his tossed cabin. He lies there, confined in the midst of a small destruction, and secretly feels glad that he doesn't have to go on deck. But every now and then, an uncontrollable rush of anguish seizes him, makes him gasp and writhe under the blankets, and then the senseless brutality of an existence prone to such agonizing sensations fills him with a desperate desire to escape at any cost. Then, fine weather returns, and he no longer thinks about it.

However, his lameness persists, and when the ship arrives at an Eastern port, he has to go to the hospital. His recovery is slow, and he is left behind. When Jim finally regains his strength and is able to get around again, his ship has long since departed. He then takes a position as the chief mate of the Patna. This is definitely a bad decision. And so, they set sail with eight hundred men and women, all of them pilgrims with faith and hopes. There are strong men at the head of family parties, old men, old women, young boys, and shy little girls. The captain refers to them as human cattle. We are told that the five whites on board live in isolation from the human cargo. That sounds terrible. And then, this happens:

What had happened? The wheezy thump of the engines continues. Had the earth been halted in its course? They cannot understand. Suddenly, the calm sea and the cloudless sky appear terrifyingly insecure in their immobility, as if balanced on the edge of yawning destruction. The engineer rebounds vertically and then collapses again into a shapeless heap. This heap says, “What’s that?” in the muffled tones of profound grief. A faint noise, like that of thunder, but infinitely remote, less than a sound, hardly more than a vibration, passes slowly, and the ship trembles in response, as if the thunder had rumbled deep within the water. The eyes of the two Malays at the wheel sparkle towards the white men, but their dark hands remain firmly closed on the spokes. The sharp hull, as it drives forward, seems to rise a few inches successively along its entire length, as if it had become flexible, and then settles back down rigidly to its task of cleaving the smooth surface of the sea. Its quivering stops, and the faint noise of thunder ceases all at once, as if the ship had steamed across a narrow band of vibrating water and humming air.

I don't know what exactly happened, but if this were the Titanic, I would say they hit an iceberg. The ship is now sinking. The forepeak (whatever that is) is already more than half full of water. There is a large hole below the water line. According to the second engineer, he claims that the bulkhead will give way in a minute and the ship will sink like a lump of lead. Everything they do now is the wrong thing. Certain that the ship will sink, Jim joins the captain and some of the crew and abandons the ship in one of the lifeboats, leaving the "human cargo" to sink with the ship. However, the ship doesn't sink. After the captain and crew arrive and tell their story of the ship sinking and the loss of all the passengers, the ship actually arrives. All the passengers had been rescued by a French ship. This is good for the eight hundred passengers, but it is bad for Jim. I say it is bad for Jim because, although it would also have been bad for the captain and other crew members, they don't stay around long enough for the trial. Jim does. At this trial, one of the assessors is Big Brierly. This is what is said about him:

“He seemed extremely bored by the honor thrust upon him. He had never in his life made a mistake, never had an accident, never a mishap, never a setback in his steady rise, and he seemed to be one of those fortunate fellows who know nothing of indecision, much less of self-doubt. At thirty-two, he had one of the best commands in the Eastern trade—and, what’s more, he thought very highly of what he had. There was nothing like it in the world, and I suppose if you had asked him directly, he would have confessed that, in his opinion, there was no other commander like him. The choice had fallen upon the right man. The rest of mankind who did not command the sixteen-knot steel steamer Ossa were rather pitiful creatures. He had saved lives at sea, had rescued ships in distress, had been presented with a gold chronometer by the underwriters, and a pair of binoculars with a suitable inscription from some foreign government, in commemoration of these services. He was acutely aware of his merits and his rewards. I liked him well enough, though some people I know—meek, friendly men at that—couldn't stand him at any price. I have no doubt that he considered himself vastly superior to me—in fact, if you had been the Emperor of East and West, you could not have ignored your inferiority in his presence—but I couldn't really feel offended. He didn't despise me for anything I could help, for anything I was—don't you know? I was a negligible quantity simply because I was not the fortunate man of the earth, not Montague Brierly in command of the Ossa, not the owner of an inscribed gold chronometer and silver-mounted binoculars testifying to the excellence of my seamanship and my indomitable courage; not possessed of an acute sense of my merits and my rewards, besides the love and worship of a black retriever, the most wonderful of its kind—for never was such a man loved thus by such a dog. No doubt, having all this forced upon you was exasperating enough; but when I thought that I was associated with these fatal disadvantages along with twelve hundred million other more or less human beings, I found that I could bear my share of his good-natured and contemptuous pity for the sake of something indefinite and attractive in the man. I have never defined this attraction to myself, but there were moments when I envied him. The sting of life could do no more to his complacent soul than the scratch of a pin to the smooth face of a rock. This was enviable. As I looked at him, flanking the unassuming, pale-faced magistrate who presided over the inquiry, his self-satisfaction presented to me and to the world a surface as hard as granite. He committed suicide very soon after.”

He had little to do with the novel other than being present at the trial, but I was surprised by all the build-up of him only to have him end up committing suicide. I was even more surprised when I found out that he was based on a real person. But let's get back to Jim. The trial ends, and he is found guilty and loses his certificate to sail for three years. The same goes for the rest of them, but they're not around to be informed. And with that, Jim leaves for distant ports where he can work hard, be alone, and where no one knows him. Each time someone recognizes him or the story of the trial comes up, he packs his bags and leaves for the next faraway port. He finally ends up in Patusan, a village on a remote island cut off from most commerce, which Jim believes is exactly what he needs. That's what he thinks anyway. And then, well, I just wish he had stayed on that first sinking ship. On to the next book.

Look Before You Leap!


The wisdom encapsulated in the old adage "Look Before You Leap" is often simply alliterative, setting it apart from the typical platitudes we receive in response to life's questions. However, in the case of the eponymous hero in Joseph Conrad's novel "Lord Jim" (1900), these words assume a much more multifaceted meaning that perfectly suits the complexity of the tale, widely regarded as one of Conrad's masterpieces.


In "Lord Jim", Conrad narrates the story of a promising young naval officer, who, after a fall from grace, will be known as Jim. He dreams of distinguishing himself from his peers through an act of noble courage. But, following a blind impulse and influenced by the bad examples of his crewmates and captain, he heedlessly abandons his ship, the Patna, which is carrying hundreds of unsuspecting pilgrims, when he believes the vessel is doomed to sink at sea. Ironically, the Patna is later picked up by a French ship, and no one on board is harmed. Jim, however, is not so fortunate. Prompted by his conscience to do his duty as a gentleman, he undergoes a naval trial and loses his patent. What haunts him even more is the feeling that he will never be able to live down the shame, and his own code of honor and high expectations prevent him from ever holding his head up among his equals again.


Jim leads an obscure life as a water-clerk, constantly moving further east whenever he discovers that the knowledge of his ignoble behavior has reached his current location. Eventually, he is offered the opportunity to pacify local tensions in Patusan, a trading post held by a German businessman named Stein. As Stein's representative, Jim courageously faces danger and overcomes numerous obstacles, quickly earning him the title "Tuan" among the natives and the love of a local girl named Jewel. Tragically, fate has one more cruel surprise in store for him. One day, a group of desperadoes led by the infamous Gentleman Brown arrives. Brown manages to deceive Jim into believing that they are victims of similar circumstances, and he wreaks havoc in Patusan. Jim, who has given his word to the locals that Brown would pose no threat, is left with no choice but to sacrifice himself to maintain his honor.


"Lord Jim" is a rich and complex novel in many ways. I have just completed my second reading, and I am astounded by the depth with which Conrad tells the story of his protagonist and explores his inner life, while simultaneously keeping Jim at a certain distance as an object of examination, not just a target of sympathy. The majority of the tale is narrated by the seafaring philosopher Marlowe, whom we know from "Heart of Darkness", published a year before "Lord Jim". Marlowe intertwines his own observations with testimony from other characters, such as a French officer, the evil Gentleman Brown, and Jim himself. This provides us with a diverse range of viewpoints and a non-linear narrative that shifts back and forth in time, leaving gaps and challenging us to piece together the story as we read. Some critics have argued that Marlowe's story is too long and unrealistic, but when we consider how Conrad's choice of narrative perspective and his use of Marlowe's time-shifting and insertion of other testimonies transform the story into a kaleidoscopic puzzle, we realize that it is a highly effective and lifelike way of telling a story.


I do not wish to offer a comprehensive interpretation of this brilliant book, but it can be said that "Lord Jim" is about the concept of honor and a gentleman's willingness to sacrifice himself for a higher purpose. These ideals may have contributed to making Great Britain's imperialistic policy seem more palatable to many in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Jim, a paragon of manly virtue, dreams of embodying these ideals and showing the superiority of British and European civilization in the face of savagery. However, his panicky reaction when the Patna appears doomed shatters his dreams and disgraces him, perhaps even more in his own eyes than in the eyes of others. Unable to face himself, Jim withdraws from society and only finds a sense of purpose again in the wilderness of Patusan. Tragically, even there, he is unable to fully overcome his guilt and his overly harsh judgment of his past behavior, making him vulnerable to Brown's manipulation. The most tragic aspect of the story is that at the end, Jim takes another leap without looking when he surrenders himself to the father of a boy who died because of his misjudgment. While this act satisfies his need to maintain his newly-won honor, it is also a form of betrayal, as he leaves behind Jewel, whose love has made him realize that his life no longer belongs solely to him.


Considering this tragic irony, "Lord Jim" remains a very modern novel, gently but forcefully challenging readers to question the ideals and codes of behavior they have grown up with. These ideals may only serve to exploit the individual and hinder our ability to see what is truly important and fulfilling in life. This is, of course, my personal interpretation, which may not be shared by others and may not even have been Conrad's intention. However, as Conrad once said, half of the book is with the author, and the other half is with the reader. Given the complexity of this novel, I am certain that there are as many ways of reading it as there are readers.

I generally only take the trouble to review books that I have truly enjoyed. This is especially the case since I don't bother much to go back and review those that I read quite some time ago. However, "Lord Jim" demands a review.

Why did I despise this book so deeply? Well, I was an English major in college and I even have a master's degree in English literature. I have a genuine love for books! But this book is the only novel that has ever managed to put me to sleep. I simply could not engage with the action. Conrad's overly verbose English diction and his excessively correct grammar truly infuriated me. His writing style frustrated me to no end. The plot was essentially non-existent, and I absolutely loathed the characters. I had no empathy for them whatsoever. I had no desire to continue reading it, and slogging through it felt like it was killing my brain cells.

I admit that I read this book in high school. It is entirely possible that I might not reject it as strongly now that I am more attuned to Conrad's purpose. But quite frankly, I don't particularly care. If I have to passionately hate one author and one book, then this is it!

Nothing brought me more joy than the tragic ending of this book.

First, the bad news. In "Lord Jim", Conrad launches full-bore into every idea, with a thoroughness verging on overdevelopment. His writing style does not explore the power of brevity. Choosing realism over poetry, he paints a sharp picture akin to a photograph where other writers may have reached for enigma. But such a tender criticism, it must be said, could only be given to a great work. However, Conrad oddly tries to paint his subject matter as enigmatic using finery and detail, and the result sometimes seems to be an overextension, almost gaudy in places.

The second blemish in "Lord Jim" is Conrad’s one-dimensional portrayal of women and natives. I won’t expound too much on this one, but “the girl” could have been called by a name for as many times as she is mentioned (even Jim’s pet name for her would have been preferable to the million references to “the girl”). And Dain Waris’ character is left nearly untouched, despite the important role he is said to have played in Jim’s life. Many less important characters get more attention.

These are the sharpest criticisms I can come up with for "Lord Jim", which is otherwise a complete and beautiful plunge into the boundless depths of human fear and repentance. The language is crisp, elegant, and flawless (which some will love and others will resent). It is a great tale of adventure, bold and memorable. Once you read it, Jim will pop up quietly in your own life when you find yourself haplessly scrabbling to right old wrongs, long dead and buried.

This novel truly has its flaws, but they do not overshadow its many strengths. It remains a classic work that continues to captivate readers with its exploration of the human psyche and the nature of courage and redemption.