Lord Jim

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First published in 1900, 'Lord Jim' established Conrad as one of the great storytellers of the twentieth century. Set in the Malay Archipelago, the novel not only provides a gripping account of maritime adventure and romance, but also an exotic tale of the East. Its themes also challenge the conventions of nineteenth-century adventure fiction, confirming Conrad's place in literature as one of the first 'modernists' of English letters. 'Lord Jim' explores the dilemmas of conscience, of moral isolation, of loyalty and betrayal confronting a sensitive individual whose romantic quest for an honourable ideal are tested to the limit. In this novel, Conrad draws on his background as Polish emigre, as well as his first-hand experience as a seaman, to experiment radically with the presentation of human frailty and doubt in the modern world. AUTHOR: Born Jozef Teodor Konrad Nalecz Korzeniowski in Poland in 1857, Conrad served in the British Merchant Service (1878-94), travelling to Africa, Australia, India, Indonesia and the Orient, becoming a British citizen in 1886. Turning to full-time writing in 1894, his years at sea featured heavily in his early works. His novels, such as 'Lord Jim', and his novella 'Heart of Darkness' (on which the film 'Apocalypse Now' was based) have brought him an enduring reputation.

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Introduction and Notes by Susan Jones, St Hilda's College, Oxford