Classics and the Western Canon discussion
Conrad, Nostromo
>
Schedule and Background
date
newest »
newest »
My copy is coming from the library soon. I'm excited!
Jared wrote: "My copy is coming from the library soon. I'm excited!"I’ve heard so much about Nostromo that I’m really looking forward to reading it together, too, and to exploring Sulaco and Costaguana ;).
In the first few chapters, Conrad very clearly lays out the geography of Sulaco, his fictitious port located in the fictitious country of Costaguana. Some folks have turned his description into a variety of maps available online for anyone who likes to google. Here’s one: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=c...
Jared wrote: "My copy is coming from the library soon. I'm excited!"
Pardon me if this is off topic, but do you have a system for "annotating" library books? :) I prefer underlining/writing in my books, as Mortimer Adler recommends, but lately I've been reading more library books. So, of course, one can't write in those.
Pardon me if this is off topic, but do you have a system for "annotating" library books? :) I prefer underlining/writing in my books, as Mortimer Adler recommends, but lately I've been reading more library books. So, of course, one can't write in those.
Stephen wrote: "Pardon me if this is off topic, but do you have a system for "annotating" library books? :) I prefer underlining/writing in my books, as Mortimer Adler recommends, but lately I've been reading more library books. So, of course, one can't write in those. “
I’ve used various systems for taking notes for books I can’t directly annotate. Right now, I’m using an 11 x 8 1/2 inch pad of paper, For passages I might want to refer back to, I write either a few summary notes or the first few words of the quote plus the page number. Low tech, but it works for me.
Anyone else?
I don't do a ton of annotating when I read; when I do make a note I just write it in a notebook with the page number. Pittsburgh has such a wonderful public library system; I just love taking advantage of it. :)
What I do personally - I always take a few pieces of paper and fold them into squares so I can keep them with the book. I use them as a bookmark while reading and make notes on them throughout. Then, at the end, I have something to refer to. Usually I write down character trees, certain passages I want to remember or certain things that seem interesting or important, symbols or whatever. It helps me to remember the book better later, and sometimes if a character pops up many pages later, it will jog my memory as to who they were. It also makes me more aware of motifs and things like that.I pretty much never read anything in digital form, always paperbacks or audiobooks, so that might be why my methods are so old-school. I never mark in the books themselves, that way I can pass them on if I'm ever done with them.
Stephen wrote: "do you have a system for "annotating" library books?"I read Kindle editions whenever possible just for the note taking ability, even library or temporary books since notes are still available online after returning the book. However, I often transfer those notes and highlights as well as work up posts, when I am moderating, to MIcrosoft OneNote to keep things organized. Plus, it also runs as an app on my phone and the speech to text functions saves my thumbs from all that typing.
I am a big fan of Adler and out of all of my books, my kindle edition of How To Read A Book has the most highlights and notes, but the one thing I never got on board with was writing in a physical book. I understand the spirit of the advice, but I could just never bring myself to practice it, even in my college textbooks. Of course this was back in my day when Pluto was a planet and my only option was paper and pencil, or a pen if I was feeling confident. Adler calls this part of active reading, and it does help keep me awake, though not as well as it used to.
CHARACTER LIST (as of Week 4) (* = new this week)OCEANIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY (ONS)
Captain Joseph Mitchell aka Señor Mitchell aka “Fussy Joe”, head of ONS in Costaguana
Nostromo aka Capataz de Cargadores aka Gian’ Battista aka Juan, Captain Mitchell’s right-hand man
Paquita aka Morenita, his lover
ALBERGO D’ITALIA UNA
Giorgio Viola, aka Vecchio, a follower of Garibaldi, now an inn keeper
Signora Teresa Viola, his wife
Linda Viola, their older daughter
Giselle Viola, their younger daughter
Luis, works at the inn
SAN TOME MINE
Mr. Holroyd of the house of Holroyd, American financier of the San Tome mine
Charles Gould aka Don Carlos Gould aka the Englishman of Sulaco aka King of Sulaco aka Señor Administrador, Administrator of San Tome Mine, third generation immigrant, born in Costaguana of English descent
Emilia Gould aka Doña Emilia aka the English Señora, his wife
Charles Gould’s grandfather, immigrant to Costaguana, fought for independence with Bolivar
Harry Gould aka Don Enrique Gould, Charles Gould’s uncle, elected President of Sulaco, executed by order of Guzman Bento
Mr Gould, Senior, Charles Gould’s father, one of the wealthiest merchants of Costaguana, given concession of San Tome mine as a “fatal favor”
The Marchesa, Mrs Gould’s aunt in Italy
Basilio, Mr Gould’s servant and head servant of the Casa Gould
Leonarda, Mrs Gould’s chambermaid at the Casa Gould
*Ignacio, the Gould’s coachman
Bonifacio, the muleteer and carrier of messages between Charles Gould and Moraga
Don Pepe aka El Señor Gobernador, a retired senior major now in charge of the population in the territory of the mine
Dr Monygham, El Señor Doctor, English doctor, medical pastor of the mine hospital
Father Roman, priest of the miner’s chapel at the mine
CASA AVELLANOS
Don Jose Avellanos, Néstor, statesman, poet, author, friend of the Gould family,
Antonia Avellanos, Doña Antonia, his daughter
Señor Moraga, Don Jose’s nephew, a lawyer, agent of the San Tome mine in Sta Marta
*Martin Decoud, Don Jose’s godson, The Journalist of Sulaco, editor of The Porvenir (The Future)
*Padre Corbelan, Father Corbelan, Vicar-General, Grand-Vicar of the cathedral, Don Jose’s brother-in-law
THE NATIONAL CENTRAL RAILROAD
Sir John, Chairman of the railway board, English businessman making official visit
*Engineer-in-Chief
*Mr Scarfe, young engineer on the railway staff, staying at the Violas’ inn
POLITICIANS, GENERALS, AND HIGHWAYMEN
Don Vincente Ribiera, Excelentísimo, one-time President-Dictator of Costaguana, a former Doctor of Philosophy from the Cordova University
General Montero, one-time Minister of War in Ribiera government, later leader of a rebellion with his brother
Montero’s brother, an ex-guerrillero, the Comandante de Plaza, one-time Military Commandant of the Capital in Ribiera government before rebelling with his brother
Hernandez, the robber with his band of salteadores/highwaymen
General Pablo Barrios, The Tiger-Killer, One-Eyed Barrios, commander of Occidental Province, head of army against the Montero rebellion
Guzman Bento, Unionist General, Perpetual President, Citizen Saviour of the Country, El Gobierno Supremo, head of the Army of Pacification, former brutal tyrant who kept peace in Costaguana for twelve or fifteen years (both figures cited)
*Don Juste Lopez, President of the Provincial Assembly, Sulaco
*Jefe of Sulaco, Jefe Politico
*Chief Magistrate
OTHERS
*Señor Anzani, store-owner in Sulaco
*Señora Gavilaso de Valdés, a widow from a distinguished family, her son Jaime is on Barrios’ staff
*Señor Hirsch, hide-merchant from Esmeralda
Thank you, Susan. This is very helpful.
**Spoiler Alert**CHARACTER LIST FOR NOSTROMO (* = new in Week 9)
OCEANIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY (ONS)
Captain Joseph Mitchell aka Señor Mitchell aka “Fussy Joe”, head of ONS in Costaguana, later retired
Nostromo aka Captain Fidanza aka Capataz de Cargadores aka Giovanni aka Gian’ Battista aka Juan, Captain Mitchell’s right-hand man
Paquita aka Morenita, his lover
*Ramirez, the new Capataz of the Sulaco Cargadores
ALBERGO D’ITALIA UNA
Giorgio Viola, aka Vecchio aka Garibaldino aka Viejo, a follower of Garibaldi, lighthouse keeper on Great Isabel, formerly an inn keeper
Signora Teresa Viola aka The Padrona, his wife
Linda Viola, their older daughter, the under-keeper of the Isabel’s Light, Nostromo’s official fiancée
Giselle Viola, their younger daughter, Nostromo’s unofficial fiancée
Luis, works at the inn
SAN TOME MINE
Mr. Holroyd of the house of Holroyd, American financier of the San Tome mine
Charles Gould aka Don Carlos Gould aka the Englishman of Sulaco aka King of Sulaco aka El Rey de Sulaco aka Señor Administrador, Administrator of San Tome Mine, third generation immigrant, born in Costaguana of English descent
Emilia Gould aka Doña Emilia aka the English Señora, his wife
Charles Gould’s grandfather, immigrant to Costaguana, fought for independence with Bolivar
Harry Gould aka Don Enrique Gould, Charles Gould’s uncle, elected President of Sulaco, executed by order of Guzman Bento
Mr Gould, Senior, Charles Gould’s father, one of the wealthiest merchants of Costaguana, given concession of San Tome mine as a “fatal favor”
The Marchesa, Mrs Gould’s aunt in Italy
Basilio, Mr Gould’s servant and head servant of the Casa Gould
Leonarda, Mrs Gould’s chambermaid at the Casa Gould
Ignacio, the Gould’s coachman
Bonifacio, the muleteer and carrier of messages between Charles Gould and Señor Moraga
Don Pepe aka El Señor Gobernador, a retired senior major now in charge of the population in the territory of the mine
Dr Monygham aka Inspector-General of State Hospitals, Official Advisor on Sanitation to the Municipality, aka El Señor Doctor, English doctor, medical pastor of the mine. Chief medical officer of the Army under Guzman Bento, later a political prisoner at the time of the “Great Conspiracy.”
Father Roman, priest of the miner’s chapel at the mine
CASA AVELLANOS
Don Jose Avellanos aka Nestor, statesman, poet, author of “Fifty Years of Misrule,” former political prisoner, friend of the Gould family
Antonia Avellanos aka Doña Antonia, his daughter
Señor Moraga, Don Jose’s nephew, a lawyer, agent of the San Tome mine in Sta Marta
Martin Decoud aka Don Martin aka The Journalist of Sulaco , Don Jose’s godson, editor of The Porvenir (The Future)
Cardinal-Archbishop Corbelan aka Bishop aka Padre Corbelan aka Father Corbelan aka Vicar-General aka Grand-Vicar of the cathedral, Don Jose’s brother-in-law
Martin Decoud’s favorite sister in Paris
Don Jaime Berges, acquaintance of Martin Decoud and his family
THE NATIONAL CENTRAL RAILROAD
Sir John, Chairman of the railway board, English businessman making official visit
Engineer-in-Chief
Mr Scarfe, young engineer on the railway staff, staying at the Violas’ inn
Mr Harris, engineer at the railhead
POLITICIANS, GENERALS, AND HIGHWAYMEN
Don Vincente Ribiera, Excelentísimo, one-time President-Dictator of Costaguana, a former Doctor of Philosophy from the Cordova University
Emperor Montero, aka General aka one-time Minister of War in Ribiera government, later leader of a rebellion with his brother
His Excellency Don Pedro Montero aka Pedrito, brother of General Montero, an ex-guerrillero, the Comandante de Plaza, one-time Military Commandante of the Capital in Ribiera government before rebelling with his brother
Colonel Sotillo, Commandant of Esmeralda, in command of pro-Montero troop transport, formerly pro-Ribiera and visitor to Casa Gould
Old major of Sotillo’s battalion
Minister of War Hernandez with his Carabineers of the Campo, aka General with his soldiers, formerly the robber with his band of salteadores/highwaymen
Generalissimo Pablo Barrios aka General aka The Tiger-Killer aka One-Eyed Barrios, commander of Occidental Province, head of army against the Montero rebellion
Guzman Bento, Unionist General, Perpetual President, Citizen Saviour of the Country, El Gobierno Supremo, head of the Army of Pacification, former brutal tyrant who kept peace in Costaguana for twelve or fifteen years (both figures cited)
Father Beron, army chaplain under Guzman Bento who assisted in questioning of political prisoners
Don Juste Lopez, Chief of State of the Occidental Republic, head of the Parliamentary Party, formerly President of the Provincial Assembly, Sulaco
Jefe of Sulaco aka Jefe Político under Ribiera
Chief Magistrate
Señor Gamacho, Ally of Pedro Montero and Political Chief of Sulaco (Jefe Politico) in his regime, Former Deputy in the Provincial Assembly, co-leader with Señor Fuentes of pro-Montero mob and pro-Montero Committee
Señor Fuentes, Ally of Pedro Montero and Comandante of the National Guards in his regime , former Deputy in the Provincial Assembly, co-leader with Señor Gamacho of pro-Montero mob and pro-Montero Committee, ex-pedlar of the Campo
OTHERS
Señor Anzani, universal store-owner in Sulaco
Señora Gavilaso de Valdés, a widow from a distinguished family, her son Jaime is on Barrios’ force
Señor Hirsch, hide-merchant from Esmeralda, stowaway on the lighter, prisoner of Colonel Sotillo
Señor Bernhardt, Telegraphist of the Cable Company in Sulaco
*Cavaliere Parrochetti, the famous Italian sculptor, worked in Sulaco for 2 years
*Photographer, president of meeting in Nostromo’s honor, hater of all capitalists
If your edition of Nostromo is missing the Author’s Note where Conrad talks about how he came to write this story, you can find it here: https://americanliterature.com/author...I’d recommend waiting until you finish the book before reading it since there is at least one major spoiler.
I'm looking for the interim reads from finishing "Nostromo" to starting "Fathers and Sons." Please help.And wrt F&S, is there a default best translation (into English)?
Or where is a better place to post these questions? TIA
Sam wrote: "I'm looking for the interim reads from finishing "Nostromo" to starting "Fathers and Sons." Please help.And wrt F&S, is there a default best translation (into English)?
Or where is a better plac..."
Hi, Sam, The interim read hasn’t been posted yet so stay tuned for answers to your questions
Sam, I'll be posting the reading schedule for Fathers and Sons on August 9. That is also the post where people will be invited to suggest translations. The reading for Fathers and Sons will begin on August 16.
Sam wrote: "I'm looking for the interim reads from finishing "Nostromo" to starting "Fathers and Sons." Please help.And wrt F&S, is there a default best translation (into English)?
Or where is a better plac..."
The interim read for the next week has been posted and should be at the top of the page.
Week 1 — May 31 — Part 1, Chapters 1-5
Week 2 — June 7 — Part 1, Chapters 6-7
Week 3 — June 14 - Part 1, Chapter 8 + Part 2, Chapters 1-2
Week 4 — June 21 - Part 2, Chapters 3-5
Week 5 — June 28 - Part 2, Chapters 6-7
Week 6 — July 5 - Part 2, Chapter 8 + Part 3, Chapters 1-2
Week 7 — July 12 - Part 3, Chapters 3-7
Week 8 — July 19 - Part 3, Chapters 8-9
Week 9 — July 26 - Part 3, Chapters 10-13 and the book as a whole
Editions: There are a number of different editions, any of which should be fine. According to Jacques Berthould and Mara Kanins, editors of the Oxford World’s Classics edition: “Although Conrad continued to tinker with Nostromo throughout his life, there is no single authoritative version of the novel…”