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
Related books
The Yarn of Old Harbour Town by William Clark Russell
This novel opens in 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars between England and France. A retired sailor, Captain Acton, reminisces about his time at sea now...
The House Behind the Cedars by Charles Chesnutt
The story occurs in the southern American states of North and South Carolina a few years following the American Civil War. Rena Walden, a young woman...
The Guermantes Way (Le Côté de Guermantes) by Marcel Proust
Marcel is a young man who is fascinated by the Guermantes family, one of the most prestigious families in Parisian high society. He dreams of being ac...
The Murder of Delicia by Marie Corelli
Delicia was murdered, but no court would ever get the case. She was murdered by the indiscretions of her husband, from the wounds they caused her, and...
The Adventures of Captain Hatteras, Part 1: The English at the North Pole by Jules Verne
The Adventures of Captain Hatteras is an adventure novel by Jules Verne in two parts: The English at the North Pole and The desert of ice. The...
Exile from Space by Judith Merril
The basic story is young woman going to the city for the first time, but there's clearly something a bit odd about this young woman because of how she...
Lost for Love by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Will Flora Everard ever find true love? Or is she destined to be forever lost? Lost for Love is a captivating novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, one of...
Adelgitha; or, The Fruits of a Single Error by Matthew Gregory Lewis
A young woman's innocent mistake sets in motion a tragic chain of events in this dark and atmospheric Gothic novel. Adelgitha; or, The Fruits of a Si...
Sketches of Gotham by Owen Davis
Dive into the intriguing world of "Sketches of Gotham" by Owen Davis, where the vibrant streets of New York City come to life through vivid storytelli...
You Should Worry Says John Henry by Hugh McHugh
The book tells the story of John Henry, a young man who experiences a series of comical misadventures as he navigates through life. Set in the early...
Reviews for The Shadow-Line
No reviews posted or approved, yet...