Conrad in the Nineteenth Century

by Ian P. Watt

Book Overview

"Nothing short of a masterpiece. . . . One of the great critical works produced since the 1950s."--New York Times

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520044053
• ISBN13: 9780520044050
• Release Date: June 1981
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Masterful Analysis of four of Conrad's Early Works

I highly recommend this Book to both readers and reseachers interested in Joseph Conrad's Early Works. After a brief Biographical introduction, Watt disccuses the following four works only: "Almayer's Folly", "The Nigger of the Narcissus", "Heart of Darkness" and "Lord Jim". The Novel "An Outcast of the Islands" (1896), as well as the five (three of them important) Stories of the Collection "Tales of Unrest" (1898) are not discussed. This matters little to the purpose of the book, but I did want to point it out, because the Title of the Book is a little misleading.Each of the four Chapters is an Analysis of its own, and can be read as a seperate Essay. Together they show Conrad's development as a writer which is the Thesis of the Book. For "Almayer's Folly", the emphasis is on Conrad's experiences in the Dutch East Indies. In the "Nigger of the Narcissus", Watt shows how Conrad through his own writing and reading was able to begin to develop his own Style. "Heart of Darkness", shows the beginnings of Conrad's use of literary devices, such as Symbolism and Impressionism. "Lord Jim" is the culmination of Conrad as a writer in the 19th Century, and shows such developments as Delayed Decoding and Symbolic Deciphering in the Narrative. Interestingly, even Watt, and Conrad's Biographers can only guess how Conrad developed some of these narrative devices, or whether he did do so himself, or through outside reading.Several factors make this book work very well: Watt's impeccable research and knowledge of not only Conrad, but of Literature and its narrative devices, the careful organization and plan of the book, and his excellent writing which makes this book flow extremely well. My only criticism is that the book lacks a Bibliography. However, Watt's sources can be gleaned through the excellent footnotes.If I were to teach a course on Conrad. I would use this book as a Text. Unfortunately, a second projected Volume, presumably a Study of Conrad's work in the 20th Century, was never published.