**Post scriptum del 2/07/2013**:

The book is readable, but in a way, the story lacks some zest. It seems like a tired chronicle of the antics of the various characters that populate it. One feels the absence of a core, a direction towards which the story could go. Maybe this comes out later, but I doubt it. I threw in the towel at page 150.

**Pre-recensione del 17/05/2013**:

More or less from the time I abandoned comics in favor of books, I started collecting Conrad's texts. At a certain point, I put them all in a row, and they were all together for years... without me ever reading one of them! Now comes this "case", it seems to me for the first time in Italy, and the idea of complexity and completeness that a long or medium-long book transmits (even just at a first visual approach) has induced me to start it.

Overall, the initial enthusiasm for starting the book as described in the pre-review seems to have waned by the time of the post scriptum. The book, while readable, fails to engage the reader fully due to the lack of a clear core or direction in the story. The characters' antics come across as tiresome, and the reader loses interest by page 150. It's a pity that the potential of the book, as perceived initially, wasn't realized. Maybe future works by the author will manage to capture the reader's attention more effectively.

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Joseph Conrad is indeed one of the great luminaries among writers.

I have frequently encountered his books as being rather challenging at the outset. However, as I delve deeper and begin to perceive the profound depths of the characters' psychologies, the ways in which the settings mirror the characters' unconscious minds, and how Conrad masterfully weaves it all together with metaphors and structures that bring out the deeper themes of his works, I become completely entranced.

The principal characters in this particular story - Captain Anthony and Flora de Barral - commence as weaklings, almost non-entities with uninteresting personalities, buffeted about on the sea of fate. But as the narrative progresses, their characters undergo a remarkable transformation and they emerge as heroic figures. Powell follows a similar trajectory. Flora's father, a fallen financial fraudster, ultimately proves to be the true weakling and a man devoid of character. It is not merely his stupidity, arrogance, and financial misdeeds; his end conclusively demonstrates that he is a man beyond redemption and unworthy of respect.

The title of the book initially misleads us into believing that the tragedies of these characters are the result of chance. This sense of chance is further strengthened by the initial story of Powell, who secures his berth on Captain Anthony's ship through the twin coincidences of sharing a name with the harbormaster and Captain Anthony's sudden and desperate need for a second mate on his ship scheduled to sail in just six hours. However, upon closer examination, it seems to me that chance has little to do with it. The characters' personalities, their psychologies, and their social circumstances all conspire to create an inevitability around the events of the book. I constantly searched for elements of chance but instead found predestination lurking beneath the surface. Things could not have unfolded in any other way. We traverse through life believing that we have choices, thinking that we are either lucky or unlucky. But if Conrad is presenting us with an accurate portrayal of the world, the path is already laid out before us by forces that are invisible, uncontrollable, and often incomprehensible. Thus, it all appears to be driven by chance, even when it is not.

As is commonly the case in Conrad's works, the sea holds great significance. Its role evolves from page to page. At times, it serves as a metaphor for calm, while at others, it represents wildness. It offers the promise of freedom and escape, yet it is also a prison. It is a place of safety and a place of risk. But above all, it is a reflection of the tumultuous minds of the characters.

Finally, there is the character of Marlow, our narrator, who also narrates other notable works such as Heart of Darkness, Lord Jim, and Youth. For the most part, Marlow maintains an objective stance. He stands at a distance from the characters and events, but occasionally he intervenes, typically as an agent of rationality. Conrad is far too astute to have a narrator who is entirely neutral. If that were his intention, he could have opted for omniscient narration. Marlow, like the subjects of his story, is a product of Victorian society and the world of the sea.尽管他看似客观，但他所讲述的故事却受到他自身身份的影响。他构建了故事的框架，同时也赋予了它背景、色彩、一些评论，以及一个或许他并不像他让我们相信的那样客观的暗示。

This novel, more than any other work of Conrad that I have read, truly pushes the author's exploration of literary modernism to its very limits.

Its elliptical storyline, which features multiple narrators, gracefully glides through time and the sublunary (one of Conrad's favorite and recurring words) space. By doing so, it arguably becomes his most ambitious work in the exploration of the novel form.

Otherwise, it is a rather strange work in many respects. It carries a lighthearted and even humorous feel through many parts. In contemporary terms, it might even be said to be snarky on occasion.

However, by the end of the novel, that mood has completely dissipated. A looming tragedy gradually works its way into the narrative, and the final feeling is one that is familiar to readers of Conrad, namely melancholy. Conrad is indeed the master of that particular feeling.

Here, it centers not only on the life of a young woman and her husband but also, indirectly, on the young man who comes to observe her relationship with her husband. Additionally, there is Marlow, the often-present narrator in many of Conrad's works.

And it is the conversation between Marlow and the young man, Powell, that drives the story: a clash between the pensive observer of worldly events and human interactions and the role of the young activist who revels in the momentary and the encounter with luck or accident in life's journey. That is, the role of chance in shaping human destiny.

This is now my absolute favourite Conrad novel.

It is completely different from any of his other books, and it came as a most pleasant surprise.

It is a unique love story that stands out for its quirkiness.

The unique and strong female character in this novel suggests that it was ahead of its time.

She is not your typical damsel in distress but a force to be reckoned with.

The love story between the characters is developed in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

It is filled with emotions, misunderstandings, and ultimately, a beautiful connection.

Overall, this is a great love story that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for something different and captivating.

It has truly left a lasting impression on me and has become a cherished addition to my collection of favourite books.

Conrad's work stands out in a unique way. It is much easier to understand and less "modernist" compared to his other pieces. However, his genius still shines through, especially in his remarkable psychological insight.

The characters he creates are incredibly real, making the reader feel deeply connected to them. The ending is truly captivating and leaves a lasting impression.

Nevertheless, there is one aspect that is a bit of a letdown. A significant portion of the story takes place on land rather than at sea. While Conrad is a master when it comes to描绘 the sea, he seems a bit less in his element on land.

This difference in setting might slightly affect the overall impact of the work, but it doesn't overshadow the many strengths that Conrad brings to the table. Overall, it is still a remarkable piece of literature that showcases his talent and creativity.

This is a slow-paced story, rich in descriptions of interior thoughts and quiet conversations.

It takes its time to unfold, allowing the reader to fully immerse in the characters' minds and the subtleties of their interactions.

Surprisingly, it managed to catch me off guard on several occasions. Just when I thought I had predicted the characters' reactions, Conrad would offer an explanation that made perfect sense.

His ability to create such unexpected twists while still maintaining the integrity of the story is truly remarkable.

It keeps the reader engaged and eager to discover what will happen next.

Despite its slow pace, this story has a certain charm that draws you in and makes you want to keep reading.

It's a testament to Conrad's skill as a writer that he can create such a captivating and thought-provoking piece.

Chance is a concept that pertains to the random meetings of individuals who belong to somewhat related social circles. In this modernist tale, the author presents only the fragmented aspects of these people. As a result, the reader is unable to gain a deeper understanding of any particular character over another.

The story is intertwined with issues of class, gender, and ethnicity. However, when it comes to universality, this book falls short. But perhaps this is exactly how it should be.

By presenting a limited and fragmented view of the characters and their experiences, the author challenges the reader to fill in the gaps and make their own interpretations. This allows for a more personal and subjective reading experience, as each reader brings their own perspectives and biases to the text.

In conclusion, while Chance may not offer a comprehensive and universal view of human nature, it does provide a unique and thought-provoking exploration of the random encounters and fragmented lives of its characters.

Pay no attention to the low end reviews for Chance and other justly-famous novels by Conrad. These reviews, unfortunately, often reflect the shortcomings of the reviewers rather than the quality of Conrad's work. In today's society, with the prevalence of cell phone addiction and the resulting pathetic attention span, along with the influence of "progressive" education, many people seem to lack the patience and ability to truly appreciate a complex and well-crafted literary piece like Conrad's.

Conrad sucks, they say. He's horrible, nothing happens, the narrative style makes no sense, he's racist or imperialist. These obtuse "reviews" go on and on. But what they fail to understand is that Conrad was first and foremost a storyteller. He was constantly experimenting with how to present a tale in a unique and engaging way. For example, in Chance, he uses a narrative structure that requires the reader to pay close attention and think about what is being read.

Unlike some other works, there is no omnipotent narrator in Chance who knows everything. Instead, we have a multi-faceted perspective, with the story principally narrated by Marlowe and Powell. Flora de Barrel, at the center of the action, is never fully explored in her own thoughts. The story unfolds through the interactions and conversations of various characters, including Flora's crook/financier father, the Fynes, Captain Anthony, and others.

As the story progresses, we begin to see how Marlowe, through his interactions with the Fynes, pieced together the bigger picture. It is a very cleverly done construction, showing how people can create and assemble a story from incomplete data sets. This book also has a great deal to say about human nature. It shows how our character and experiences influence how we see the world, how tolerant we are of others, and how some "victims" can overcome unfortunate events if given a chance, while others do not.

Chance is not really a typical "sea story" like many of Conrad's other works, nor is it a straightforward adventure story. It has its humorous moments and can be viewed as a comedy of manners (of sorts). But above all, it is a lovely mirror held up to post-Victorian pre-WW1 England, reflecting the social and cultural values of that time. In my view, it is a masterpiece that deserves much more than the very negative reviews it has received.

I read this book twice many years ago and recently re-read portions to refresh my memory for this review. My motive was to counteract some of the one and two-star reviews that, frankly, pissed me off. This book truly deserves better.

Although the novel was not one upon which Conrad's later critical reputation was to depend, it was his greatest commercial success.

Chance is narrated by Conrad's regular narrator, Charles Marlow. However, it is characterized by a complex, nested narrative where different narrators take up the story at different points.

The narrators describe and attempt to interpret various episodes in the life of Miss de Barral. She is the daughter of a convicted swindler named Smith.

When her father is prosperous, Miss de Barral leads a sheltered life. But later, she must rely on the generosity of others who either resent her or have their own agendas for her. Eventually, she escapes by marrying Captain Anthony.

Much of the book involves the musings of the various narrators over what Miss de Barreal and the Captain expected from this union and what they actually got from it.

It is noted that "Chance", which was published in 1912, is Conrad's best-selling book.

Regarding Joseph Conrad and his works, more is written here.

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

Although I recognize that Joseph Conrad's narrative style is beautiful (and for that reason, I will continue to read this author), the story seemed too confusing to me.

The plot was rather convoluted, and I had no idea where the story was headed. This lack of clarity made it difficult for me to engage with the narrative on a deeper level. Additionally, I found it challenging to empathize with the characters. Their actions and motives were often unclear, and I couldn't seem to connect with them on an emotional level.

Despite these drawbacks, I still appreciate Conrad's writing. His use of language is masterful, and his descriptions are vivid and engaging. However, in this particular story, the confusion outweighed the beauty for me. I will likely give Conrad another chance, as I believe he has much to offer as a writer, but this particular work left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

There is no greater truth than the fact that the unlucky people in this world have no right to their opportunities - as if misfortune constitutes a legitimate exclusion.

Ultimately, the greater truth is that it is not enough to just be lucky, but one must also believe that it is worth it in order to succeed in reaping the fruits of one's luck. Flora, Rontric, and Flora's failed and extremely selfish father, for a period of time, formed a sick emotional "triangle".

Until the two people who truly deserved happiness let their emotions run wild and cover up their silences.