Search

The well-known shrill voice startled Almayer from his dream of splendid future into the unpleasant realities of the present hour. An unpleasant voice too. He had heard it for many years, and with every year he liked it less. No matter; there would be an end to all this soon.He shuffled uneasily, but took no further notice of the call. Leaning with both his elbows on the balustrade of the verandah, he went on looking fixedly at the great river that flowed—indifferent and hurried—before his eyes. He liked to look at it about the time of sunset; perhaps because at that time the sinking sun would spread a glowing gold tinge on the waters of the Pantai, and Almayer's thoughts were often busy with gold; gold he had failed to secure; gold the others had secured—dishonestly, of course—or gold he meant to secure yet, through his own honest exertions, for himself and Nina. He absorbed himself in his dream of wealth and power away from this coast where he had dwelt for so many years, forgetting the bitterness of toil and strife in the vision of a great and splendid reward. They would live in Europe, he and his daughter. They would be rich and respected. Nobody would think of her mixed blood in the presence of her great beauty and of his immense wealth. Witnessing her triumphs he would grow young again, he would forget the twenty-five years of heart-breaking struggle on this coast where he felt like a prisoner. All this was nearly within his reach. Let only Dain return! And return soon he must—in his own interest, for his own share. He was now more than a week late! Perhaps he would return to-night. Such were Almayer's thoughts as, standing on the verandah of his new but already decaying house—that last failure of his life—he looked on the broad river. There was no tinge of gold on it this evening, for it had been swollen by the rains, and rolled an angry and muddy flood under his inattentive eyes, carrying small drift-wood and big dead logs, and whole uprooted trees with branches and foliage, amongst which the water swirled and roared angrily.

2 romaner.

Almayer's Folly is about a poor businessman who dreams of finding a hidden gold mine and becoming very wealthy. He is a white European, married to a native Malayan; they have one daughter named Nina. He fails to find the goldmine, and comes home saddened. Previously, he had heard that the British were to conquer the Pantai River, and he had built a large, lavish house near where he resided at the time, in order to welcome the invaders. However, the conquest never took place, and the house remained unfinished. Some passing Dutch seamen had called the house "Almayer's Folly". Now, Almayer continually goes out for long trips, but eventually he stops doing so and stays home with his hopeless daydreams of riches and splendor. His native wife loathes him for this.One day, a Malayan prince, Dain Maroola, comes to see Almayer about trading, and while there he falls in love with Nina. Mrs. Almayer keeps arranging meetings between Nina and Dain. She wants them to marry so her daughter could stay native, because she is highly distrustful of white men and their ways. Dain leaves but vows to return to help Almayer find the gold mine. When he does return, he goes straight to Lakamba, a Malayan rajah, and tells him that he found the gold mine and that some Dutchmen had captured his ship. The rajah tells him to kill Almayer before the Dutch arrive because he is not needed to find the gold now. The following morning, an unidentifiable native corpse is found floating in the river, wearing an ankle bracelet very similar to Dain's. Almayer is distraught because Dain is his only chance to find the mine. The corpse is actually that of his slave, who had died when his canoe overturned. Mrs. Almayer suggests that Dain put his anklet and ring on the body.

Embark on a riveting journey along an eastern river, as the tale of Almayer's Folly unfolds, revealing the complexities of life in exotic locales. Almayer’s Folly (A Story of an Eastern River) by Joseph Conrad: Embark on a captivating journey along the mystical Eastern River with the acclaimed author Joseph Conrad in Almayer’s Folly. This poignant tale explores the complexities of colonialism, love, and the human spirit as it unfolds against the exotic backdrop of Southeast Asia. Conrad's evocative prose and insightful narrative make this novel a compelling exploration of the human condition. Why This Book? Almayer’s Folly invites readers to delve into the intricacies of cultural clashes and personal desires set against the lush and enigmatic landscape of the Eastern River. Joseph Conrad's exploration of the human psyche amidst the challenges of colonialism creates a narrative that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. Joseph Conrad, a master of literary exploration, leaves an indelible mark with Almayer’s Folly. Immerse yourself in the vivid imagery and profound themes woven into the tapestry of this Eastern River saga, as Conrad invites readers to ponder the complexities of life in the colonial era.

Welcome to the Essential Novelists book series, were we present to you the best works of remarkable authors. For this book, the literary critic August Nemo has chosen the two most important and meaningful novels ofJoseph Conradwhich are Heart of Darkness andLord Jim. After a sea-faring career in the French and British merchant marines, Joseph Conrad wrote short stories and novels which combined his experiences in remote places with an interest in moral conflict and the dark side of human nature. Novels selected for this book: - Heart of Darkness - Lord Jim This is one of many books in the seriesEssential Novelists. If you liked this book, look for the other titles in the series, we are sure you will like some of the authors.

"Lord Jim" is the story of a seaman and his various adventures. The writer focuses on that one moment of Jim's life where lack of courage changes it forever. He joins a group of officers who manage to escape successfully from a sinking ship and leave all passengers to drown. Later, Jim is the only person who accepts his sin and cowardice publicly. Engrossing!

This adventure story is of a heroic man victimized by his own integrity & destroyed by his sense of lost honor.