Romance

By Joseph Conrad, Ford Madox Ford, Ford Madox Hueffer, et al.

Book Overview

"Romance" is a sweeping tale of high-seas adventure and political intrigue, co-authored by the celebrated literary masters Joseph Conrad and Ford Madox Ford (writing as F.M. Hueffer). Set against the lush and dangerous backdrop of the West Indies during the early nineteenth century, the story follows young John Kemp, an idealistic Englishman who finds himself entangled in a web of piracy, corruption, and forbidden love in Jamaica and Cuba.

Driven by a desire for excitement and escape from his mundane life, Kemp's journey leads him into the heart of a lawless world where survival depends on wit and courage. As he navigates the treacherous waters of the Caribbean, he encounters a vivid cast of characters, including ruthless pirates and Spanish aristocrats, all while struggling to maintain his integrity amidst the moral ambiguity of the colonial frontier. This collaborative masterpiece blends Conrad's psychological depth and mastery of maritime settings with Ford's narrative experimentation. "Romance" remains a compelling exploration of the clash between idealism and reality, offering readers a timeless narrative of peril and passion on the high seas.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025380525
• ISBN13: 9781025380520
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 1.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 1.1" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Conrad & Ford's concept of Romance

About this collaborative novel published in 1903, Conrad said, "There's easy style, plenty of action, a romantic atmosphere, and a happy ending after no end of real hair's breadth escapes." It was both his and Ford's idea of what Romance was, and they made a serious attempt to capture it in this story. There's a hero, of course (John Kemp), and a heroine (Seraphina), and after suffering all kinds of adventures (mainly in Jamaica and Cuba) involving smuggling, piracy, sea chases, shootings, men sworn to loyalty, and lots of near mishaps, they are united and at peace. Much of the intrigue that takes place on Jamaica was based on fact, and Conrad did a lot of research on politics on the island (and Cuba) during the 1820s, when the book is set. But the book suffered the same fate as some of Fenimore Cooper's novels in that it was relegated to the "boys' adventure literature" category rather than taken as a serious work of art. (The critics are probably right.) The dialogue is especially weak. The cultural differences, though, encountered in the book are handled deftly by the authors, especially the Spanish ways of Seraphina as contrasted with Kemp's English background. Not considered to be one of Conrad's major achievements.