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Three Sea Stories: Typhoon, Falk, and the Shadow-Line
Edited and with an Introduction by Dr Keith Carabine, Chairperson of the Joseph Conrad Society of Great Britain.
As these three specially commissioned stories amply demonstrate, Conrad is our greatest writer of the sea. His characters are tested by dramatic events 'that show in the light of day the inner worth of a man, the edge of his temper, and the fibre of his stuff; that reveal the quality of his resistance and the secret stuff of his pretences, not only to others but also to himself'. In Typhoon, Conrad's funniest story, Captain MacWhirr blunders into a hurricane that reveals the sea's treachery, violence and terror. Falk is desperate to get married, but first he must tell of his terrible experiences as sole survivor of a stricken ship that once drifted into the ice-caps of Antarctica. The Shadow-Line is a poignant and beautiful story. Written during the First World War and based on Conrad's fond evocation of his own first command, it expresses his solidarity with all who were obliged to cross in early youth the shadow-line of their war-torn generation.
Includes a glossary of nautical terms.
As these three specially commissioned stories amply demonstrate, Conrad is our greatest writer of the sea. His characters are tested by dramatic events 'that show in the light of day the inner worth of a man, the edge of his temper, and the fibre of his stuff; that reveal the quality of his resistance and the secret stuff of his pretences, not only to others but also to himself'. In Typhoon, Conrad's funniest story, Captain MacWhirr blunders into a hurricane that reveals the sea's treachery, violence and terror. Falk is desperate to get married, but first he must tell of his terrible experiences as sole survivor of a stricken ship that once drifted into the ice-caps of Antarctica. The Shadow-Line is a poignant and beautiful story. Written during the First World War and based on Conrad's fond evocation of his own first command, it expresses his solidarity with all who were obliged to cross in early youth the shadow-line of their war-torn generation.
Includes a glossary of nautical terms.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1915
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About the author
Joseph Conrad
3,175 books4,902 followersJoseph Conrad was a Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language and, although he did not speak English fluently until his twenties, he became a master prose stylist who brought a non-English sensibility into English literature. He wrote novels and stories, many in nautical settings, that depict crises of human individuality in the midst of what he saw as an indifferent, inscrutable, and amoral world.
Conrad is considered a literary impressionist by some and an early modernist by others, though his works also contain elements of 19th-century realism. His narrative style and anti-heroic characters, as in Lord Jim, for example, have influenced numerous authors. Many dramatic films have been adapted from and inspired by his works. Numerous writers and critics have commented that his fictional works, written largely in the first two decades of the 20th century, seem to have anticipated later world events.
Writing near the peak of the British Empire, Conrad drew on the national experiences of his native Poland—during nearly all his life, parceled out among three occupying empires—and on his own experiences in the French and British merchant navies, to create short stories and novels that reflect aspects of a European-dominated world—including imperialism and colonialism—and that profoundly explore the human psyche.
Conrad is considered a literary impressionist by some and an early modernist by others, though his works also contain elements of 19th-century realism. His narrative style and anti-heroic characters, as in Lord Jim, for example, have influenced numerous authors. Many dramatic films have been adapted from and inspired by his works. Numerous writers and critics have commented that his fictional works, written largely in the first two decades of the 20th century, seem to have anticipated later world events.
Writing near the peak of the British Empire, Conrad drew on the national experiences of his native Poland—during nearly all his life, parceled out among three occupying empires—and on his own experiences in the French and British merchant navies, to create short stories and novels that reflect aspects of a European-dominated world—including imperialism and colonialism—and that profoundly explore the human psyche.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 8, 2014
Certainly three of Conrad's finest stories, particularly The Shadow Line. Drawing from his own formidable experience and with his wonderful style, Joseph Conrad truly is a part of the Western literary cannon and a must-read for the educated gentleman of the twenty-first century.
March 10, 2020
"sürüklenip gideceksek, tutunduğumuz yeri bırakmanın ne faydası var?"
January 3, 2024
One would be hard-pressed to find more vivid, compelling descriptive writing than in Conrad's sea stories, especially 'Youth' and its third chapter. I found it unbearably tense, while his character of the ship's dull-witted, stubborn and unimaginative captain - only redeemed by his sense of humanity towards his unfortunate 'human cargo' - is masterful. Only the greats such as Chekhov, Flaubert and Tolstoy could possibly rival this.
August 6, 2012
I received this book as a gift a while back and after placing I ton my bookshelf I forgot about it. A few weeks ago I finally decided to read it for two reasons. First, because of the theme of these three stories share. The second reason is simple, it’s written by Joseph Conrad.
Well as the title of the book states this book is a compilation of three stories written by the celebrated author and adventurer Joseph Conrad. Each of the stories is very different from the other and each one shines because of these differences. The first story, Typhoon is an entertaining tale of a captain who through stubbornness or naiveté sails straight into a typhoon. Some refer to this story as comical, which is true, in a subtle manner.
The second story, “Falk”, was my favorite of the three. It may be somewhat slow paced but I found that it suits the pace marvelously. It suits perfectly the reveal at the end. Another thing, which appealed strongly to me, were the characters of the story and how beautifully they were each described. Another thing I enjoyed of the story was how it began as a tale told by someone of events, which he knew, occurred a while back.
The last story, “The Shadow Line” is a story, which exudes nostalgia and affection, not only from the main character but from the author as well. Some have paralleled this story with Conrad’s own first command (first command was working title for this story). The tale mixes both supernatural (or mystical) elements with some of the hard truths about being in charge of a ship and the toll this labor may take on an individual as well as the role that has to be taken.
Well as the title of the book states this book is a compilation of three stories written by the celebrated author and adventurer Joseph Conrad. Each of the stories is very different from the other and each one shines because of these differences. The first story, Typhoon is an entertaining tale of a captain who through stubbornness or naiveté sails straight into a typhoon. Some refer to this story as comical, which is true, in a subtle manner.
The second story, “Falk”, was my favorite of the three. It may be somewhat slow paced but I found that it suits the pace marvelously. It suits perfectly the reveal at the end. Another thing, which appealed strongly to me, were the characters of the story and how beautifully they were each described. Another thing I enjoyed of the story was how it began as a tale told by someone of events, which he knew, occurred a while back.
The last story, “The Shadow Line” is a story, which exudes nostalgia and affection, not only from the main character but from the author as well. Some have paralleled this story with Conrad’s own first command (first command was working title for this story). The tale mixes both supernatural (or mystical) elements with some of the hard truths about being in charge of a ship and the toll this labor may take on an individual as well as the role that has to be taken.
July 27, 2020
Three magnificent stories on and of the sea.
Typhoon is an uncanny piece. It's written in a cold and quite uncaring way. The feelings of the people involved are rarely considered, only their character is described in detail. The emotional turmoil one expects of a ship in the midst of a typhoon is sublimated into grand, inhuman descriptions of the Asian workers falling on each other in the lower deck, or of the waves antagonising the front- and back- ends of the ship.
The back cover seems to be under the impression that the story is humourous. I don't think that's quite right. While the horror of the typhoon is thrust upon the ship by a ridiculous decision of the captain to steer directly into it (so as to have an excuse as to why the ship was late to get to port), still the typhoon brings horrifying violence upon the crew and reveals their innermost selves.
Falk is most about people. The sea is kept as the substance of the story, but the foreground turns solemnly personal. Hermann and Falk become familiar during the story, and their presence in each scene is palpable. The highlight of the story is the beautifully vivid descriptions of Hermann's niece, who is said to inspire "pagan piety" and all who bear witness to her, and of Falk himself, who's physical stature and grace is made present by his mountainous forehead and long limbs.
Of the last tale -- the Shadow-Line -- it is best not to speak at all. Hopefully, I've managed to make the book enticing enough already.
Typhoon is an uncanny piece. It's written in a cold and quite uncaring way. The feelings of the people involved are rarely considered, only their character is described in detail. The emotional turmoil one expects of a ship in the midst of a typhoon is sublimated into grand, inhuman descriptions of the Asian workers falling on each other in the lower deck, or of the waves antagonising the front- and back- ends of the ship.
The back cover seems to be under the impression that the story is humourous. I don't think that's quite right. While the horror of the typhoon is thrust upon the ship by a ridiculous decision of the captain to steer directly into it (so as to have an excuse as to why the ship was late to get to port), still the typhoon brings horrifying violence upon the crew and reveals their innermost selves.
Falk is most about people. The sea is kept as the substance of the story, but the foreground turns solemnly personal. Hermann and Falk become familiar during the story, and their presence in each scene is palpable. The highlight of the story is the beautifully vivid descriptions of Hermann's niece, who is said to inspire "pagan piety" and all who bear witness to her, and of Falk himself, who's physical stature and grace is made present by his mountainous forehead and long limbs.
Of the last tale -- the Shadow-Line -- it is best not to speak at all. Hopefully, I've managed to make the book enticing enough already.
November 19, 2023
Okurların kitaplarla tanışma hikayelerini ve kitapların açılan fraktallar gibi başka kitaplara ve ufuklara yönlendirmesini çok seviyorum. Önce Hece Öykü'deki ön yazı sayesinde Dominguez'in Kağıt Ev'ine, oradan da Conrad'ın Gölge Hattı öyküsüyle birlikte bu kitaba gelmiş oldum. Kitapla buluşma hikayemse şöyle: Bir gün Üsküdar'dan bineceğim vapur seferi iptal olunca planımı değiştirip tanıdık bir sahafa uğradığımda -hiçbir yerde baskısı olmayan- bu kitabı görünce bir hikmeti olduğunu anladım ve alıp okumaya başladım.
Öyküleri, özellikle Gölge Hattı'nı çok sevdim ancak kitabı ve Conrad'ı çok zor okunur buldum. Öykülere devam etmek için hep kendimi zorlamam gerekti, defalarca masadan kalkıp geri geldim. Daha önce de Lord Jim'e başlamış ve okumakta zorlandığım için çok ilerleyemeden bırakmıştım. Bunlara rağmen Conrad'a neden "En iyi deniz yazarı" dediğini açık bir şekilde anladım ve okuma motivasyonumun çok yüksek olduğu zamanlarda diğer kitaplarını da okumayı düşünüyorum.
Öyküleri, özellikle Gölge Hattı'nı çok sevdim ancak kitabı ve Conrad'ı çok zor okunur buldum. Öykülere devam etmek için hep kendimi zorlamam gerekti, defalarca masadan kalkıp geri geldim. Daha önce de Lord Jim'e başlamış ve okumakta zorlandığım için çok ilerleyemeden bırakmıştım. Bunlara rağmen Conrad'a neden "En iyi deniz yazarı" dediğini açık bir şekilde anladım ve okuma motivasyonumun çok yüksek olduğu zamanlarda diğer kitaplarını da okumayı düşünüyorum.
September 14, 2021
Typhoon was tough to get through as the characters were just a consequence of the fact that the ship had to have people on it. It was a story about a storm and a ship and wasn’t very engaging. Falk and The Shadow-line involved people who just so happened to be on ships, and were far more intriguing. Nowhere near as good as Hear of Darkness, but Conrad is still a master and his skill came through on almost every page.
November 26, 2023
Bought this at an English bookstore in Munich.
Typhoon is great and plot-forward.
The Shadow Line has a slow start but is more impactful and deeper than Typhoon.
Falk is my least favorite of the three and is kinda all over the place -- vague symbolism and literary devices galore.
Typhoon is great and plot-forward.
The Shadow Line has a slow start but is more impactful and deeper than Typhoon.
Falk is my least favorite of the three and is kinda all over the place -- vague symbolism and literary devices galore.
July 12, 2021
Very well written, but it just wasn't for me. More of an in-depth character study work, whereas I expected interesting stories about the life on the sea.
did-not-finish-or-start
July 14, 2021DNS 7/14/2021
September 16, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed these 2 novels....probably my favourite of Conrad's I've now read.
More so,The Shadow Line.
More so,The Shadow Line.
March 26, 2016
Having previously read only Conrad’s HEART OF DARKNESS, I imagined that this collection of three stories could not disappoint. They did not, although compared to HEART, they are a bit idiosyncratic. Conrad is a splendid, really splendid word smith. In this regard he reminds my of Joyce’s DUBLINERS. Of the three stories, “The Shadow-Line” is by far the best; but as stories, in truth, they are all weak. However, what they lack in story is more than compensated for in descriptive narrative. The introductory note by Carabine quotes a contemporary who had read 14,000 words of Conrad yet, “one can hardly say one has got into the story yet.” That’s apt; but as Conrad countered, “beside the point.” You don’t eat dessert because you are hungry. You eat dessert for the taste. These stories are dessert.
September 16, 2008
Ok, I forgot that Conrad could actually be funny, and he is, right up to the line..."Imagine to yourselves that I have eaten man."
November 9, 2009
Typhoon is an absolutely great story. I had a hard time finishing Shadow-Line. I don't think I read Falk. Typhoon is available online.
April 5, 2010
Falk is a tale of survival to delight some sorts of Darwinians, I suppose. Well done but not much to my taste.
December 18, 2013
Of the three stories in this book, I had only read the first, 'Typhoon', when I was in college. On the re-read, 'Typhoon' was still impressive, 'Faulk' and 'The Shadow-Line' are both very good.
April 25, 2014
Typhoon: 3 stars
Falk: 4 stars
The Shadow-Line: 3 stars
Average rating: 3.333
Falk: 4 stars
The Shadow-Line: 3 stars
Average rating: 3.333
April 11, 2016
Tales of seamen, really, in a particular place and time. A great window, but you'll have to like the view to appreciate its frame.
October 20, 2016
I admire his style but, god, the grim and dismal atmosphere in these stories!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews