
The Shadow-Line
'The Shadow-Line ' Summary
The Shadow-Line is a short novel based at sea by Joseph Conrad; it is one of his later works, being written from February to December 1915. It was first published in 1916 as a serial and in book form in 1917. The novella depicts the development of a young man upon taking a captaincy in the Orient, with the shadow line of the title representing the threshold of this development. The novella is notable for its dual narrative structure. The full, subtitled title of the novel is The Shadow-Line, A Confession, which immediately alerts the reader to the retrospective nature of the novella. The ironic constructions following from the conflict between the 'young' protagonist (who is never named) and the 'old' drive much of the underlying points of the novella, namely the nature of wisdom, experience and maturity. Conrad also extensively uses irony by comparison in the work, with characters such as Captain Giles and the ship's 'factotum' Ransome used to emphasise strengths and weaknesses of the protagonist. The novella has often been cited as a metaphor of the First World War, given its timing and references to a long struggle, the importance of camaraderie, etc. This viewpoint may also be reinforced by the knowledge that Conrad's elder son, Borys, was wounded in the First World War. Others however see the novel as having a strong supernatural influence, referring to various plot-lines in the novella such as the 'ghost' of the previous captain potentially cursing the ship, and the madness of first mate Mr Burns. Conrad himself, however, denied this link in his 'Author's Note' (1920), claiming that although critics had attempted to show this link, "The world of the living contains enough marvels and mysteries as it is.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1917Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Author

Joseph Conrad
Poland, England
Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, was a Polish-British writer regarded as one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language. Though he did not speak English flu...
More on Joseph ConradDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

The House of Baltazar by William John Locke
It is a tale of love, family, and duty set in the exotic backdrop of Guatemala, Central America. The story revolves around the life of a young man, D...

Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell
The story is about 19-year-old Paul Manning, who moves to the country and befriends his mother's family and his (second) cousin Phillis Holman, who is...

Mortal Coils by Aldous Huxley
It explore the complexities of human relationships and the intricacies of the human psyche. Originally published in 1922, this book remains a classic...

Lonesome Land by B. M. Bower
In the harsh and unforgiving land of Lonesome, a young woman must learn to survive on her own. Lonesome Land is a novel by B. M. Bower, first publish...

Secrets of Crewe House: the story of a famous campaign by Campbell Stuart
The book tells the story of a high-profile campaign in the early 20th century that exposed a scandal involving a prominent British politician. First...

Free Air by Sinclair Lewis
"This cheerful little road novel is about Claire Boltwood, who, in the early days of the 20th century, travels by automobile from New York City to the...

The Huguenot: A Tale of the French Protestants by George Payne Rainsford James
The time of French king Louis XIV was a time of religious conflict. His father, Louis XIII had tried to suppress the teachings and followers of Calvin...

The Three Lieutenants by William Henry Giles Kingston
Embark on a thrilling maritime journey with "The Three Lieutenants" by William Henry Giles Kingston. Set sail into a world where courage meets the tem...

The Soft Side by Henry James
It is a novel that tells the story of a young girl's coming-of-age journey. Originally published in 1900, the book is still relevant today for its tim...

Noli Me Tangere (The Social Cancer) by José Rizal
Noli Me Tángere is an 1887 novel by José Rizal during the colonization of the Philippines by the Spanish Empire, to describe perceived inequities of t...
Reviews for The Shadow-Line
No reviews posted or approved, yet...