VictoryThe water is crystal clear. The sun is blazing. And there’s death on the horizon. Set at the turn of the 20th century, "Victory" takes place in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. Its tortured hero is Axel Heyst, a loner whose empty life is turned around when he meets the beautiful musician Lena. They fall in love, but there’s danger looming. A trio of violent desperadoes are headed to their island, convinced that Heyst has a stash of hidden treasure. A sun-drenched psychological thriller, "Victory" was one of Conrad’s most commercially successful novels. And one that still shimmers with his masterful style and narrative rule-breaking. Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) was a Polish-British writer who left an indelible mark on world literature. After leaving Poland in his teens, Conrad spent years in the French and British merchant marines. His time at sea would inspire much of his writing. Rich in symbolism and rhythmic prose, his books often grapple with the horrors of European colonialism. His most famous story is "Heart of Darkness", an adventure set on the Congo River. Decades later, the movie "Apocalypse Now" updated the story to the Vietnam War. Conrad’s other works include the novels "Lord Jim", "Nostromo" and "The Secret Agent". |
From inside the book
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... looked the longest and with a most sustained attention. This attention originated in idleness for which I have a natural talent. One evening I wandered into a cafe, in a town not of the tropics but of the South of France. It was filled ...
... looked the longest and with a most sustained attention. This attention originated in idleness for which I have a natural talent. One evening I wandered into a cafe, in a town not of the tropics but of the South of France. It was filled ...
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... looked like a barrister who had thrown his wig to the dogs. We used to remonstrate with him: “You will never see any of your advances if you go on like this, Morrison.” He would put on a knowing air. “I shall squeeze them yet some day ...
... looked like a barrister who had thrown his wig to the dogs. We used to remonstrate with him: “You will never see any of your advances if you go on like this, Morrison.” He would put on a knowing air. “I shall squeeze them yet some day ...
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... looked with sudden disfavour at that noble forehead, at those great martial moustaches, at the tired eyes of the man sitting opposite him. Who the devil was he? What was he, Morrison, doing there, talking like this? Morrison knew no ...
... looked with sudden disfavour at that noble forehead, at those great martial moustaches, at the tired eyes of the man sitting opposite him. Who the devil was he? What was he, Morrison, doing there, talking like this? Morrison knew no ...
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... looked after him for a bit in his bungalow. He became visible again rather suddenly, his eyes sunk in his head, and with a sort of guarded attitude, as if afraid someone would reproach him with the death of Morrison. Naive Heyst! As if ...
... looked after him for a bit in his bungalow. He became visible again rather suddenly, his eyes sunk in his head, and with a sort of guarded attitude, as if afraid someone would reproach him with the death of Morrison. Naive Heyst! As if ...
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... looked as if that side of the island had been altogether abandoned. This was what he expected. Presently, above the dense mass of vegetation that Samburan presents to view, he saw the head of the flagstaff without a flag. Then, while ...
... looked as if that side of the island had been altogether abandoned. This was what he expected. Presently, above the dense mass of vegetation that Samburan presents to view, he saw the head of the flagstaff without a flag. Then, while ...
Contents
Section 22 | |
Section 23 | |
Section 24 | |
Section 25 | |
Section 26 | |
Section 27 | |
Section 28 | |
Section 29 | |
Section 9 | |
Section 10 | |
Section 11 | |
Section 12 | |
Section 13 | |
Section 14 | |
Section 15 | |
Section 16 | |
Section 17 | |
Section 18 | |
Section 19 | |
Section 20 | |
Section 21 | |
Section 30 | |
Section 31 | |
Section 32 | |
Section 33 | |
Section 34 | |
Section 35 | |
Section 36 | |
Section 37 | |
Section 38 | |
Section 39 | |
Section 40 | |
Section 41 | |
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Common terms and phrases
answer appeared arms asked believe better boat bungalow chair Chinaman clear close coming course dark Davidson don’t door doubt existence expected expression eyes face fact feeling feet fellow felt gave girl give glance gone governor hand head hear heard Heyst hold island Jones keep knew leaving Lena light lips living looked manner matter mean mind Morrison moved movement murmured mysterious nature never night observed once passed Pedro perhaps raised reason remained remarked Ricardo round Schomberg seemed seen shoulders side sight silence smile sort sound speak steps stopped strange suddenly suppose surprised talk tell There’s thing thought told tone took trouble turned understand veranda voice waited walked Wang watched whispered woman wonder