The Nigger Of The "Narcissus" A Tale Of The Forecastle [Versión Kindle]

I first read this book many years ago and never forgot Conrad's description of a tremendous gale at sea that lasted for a day and a night, and that put the sailors on board a sailing ship through unbelievable terror and hardship. The fact that it is an autobiographical tale (Conrad was a seaman for twenty years) adds great excitement to the telling. I always wanted to pick the book up again, so, last week, I did and was very glad I did. The reading of that event was as gripping as the first time around. Further, I was more able to appreciate the other qualities of Conrad's writing this time round. I will, however, state at the beginning of this review that, for many modern readers, his late nineteenth century style of prose will probably be far too wordy for them. One example of this will suffice to show what I mean. Here it is. `The feverish and shrill babble of Eastern language struggled against the masterful tones of tipsy seamen, who argued against brazen claims and dishonest hopes by profane shouts'. And that's just on the first page! On the other hand, such wordiness, for a patient modern reader, gives, in my humble opinion, great rewards because he will find himself sucked into the world of isolation, desperation, courage, stoicism, and sheer terror that was life on a sailing ship.

For me, the portrayal of the gale that had the two and a half dozen men strapped to the ship as it lolled in tremendous waves for twenty-four hours on its side, is the highlight of the novel. For Conrad, though, I think he meant it to be the tale of a black seaman who came on board, feigned illness to get out of his duties, and then slowly but surely realized that he really was very sick and was facing his imminent death. This character and his dilemma had a profound effect on his shipmates and the novel examines that in detail. Conrad's characterization is masterful and, by book's end, the reader feels he knows the men very well; from cowardly, trouble-making Donkin to the oldest sailor, Singleton, who stood with his knees locked into the wheel for thirty hours as he fought to keep the ship from turning completely over and drowning everyone on board. And any review of this book that omits the fact that Conrad was Polish is remiss because it is astounding to realize that the writer of this wonderful tale is not a native English speaker. He obviously had a brilliant ear for linguistics. Read this example of Donkin's speech, Donkin being an Englishman of the lowest class.
`....Will yer? Are yer a bloomin' kid? ....Tell an' be damned! Tell, if yer can! I've been treated worser'n a dog by your bloomin' back-lickers. They `as set on me, only to turn against me. Who axed me ter `ave a drink of water?' and so the revolting man goes on.

So, despite the unfashionable wordiness of this work (and the oh, so politically incorrect usage of the term in the title), I am filled with admiration for this writer. Will I return to this novel again? You bet I will.

Despite the unfortunate title, this novella presents the unity and harmony that is required for an effective ship's crew (or any team for that matter), and how easy one person can substantially disrupt that harmony. Followers of contemporary American politics, and specifically the eternal debates over legitimate benefits and 'freeloaders,' may also find some of the themes quite familiar.

As an added benefit, the storm scene about halfway through contains some of the most sublime prose ever to illustrate the majesty and horror of a ship caught in a typhoon. Conrad paints with words scenes JMW Turner only imagined...

The story is not easy to follow. The characters don't seem representative of what you might have on a cargo ship of the time. I was disappointed.