See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

161 used & new from £0.01
See All Buying Options
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Nostromo (Penguin Popular Classics)
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside another edition of this book

Nostromo (Penguin Popular Classics) (Hardcover)

by Joseph Conrad (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


4 new from £0.01 155 used from £0.01 2 collectible from £0.01
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover Order it used
Paperback £1.99 £1.99 69 used & new from £0.01
Mass Market Paperback 4 used & new from £1.50
Library Binding 5 used & new from £48.35
Paperback (Large Print) £24.99 £21.24 12 used & new from £17.37
Show more editions and formats

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness

by Joseph Conrad
3.4 out of 5 stars (27)  £2.50
The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale (Penguin Popular Classics)

The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale (Penguin Popular Classics)

by Joseph Conrad
4.2 out of 5 stars (13)  £2.00
Lord Jim: A Tale (Penguin Popular Classics)

Lord Jim: A Tale (Penguin Popular Classics)

by Joseph Conrad
3.6 out of 5 stars (11)  £2.00
To the Lighthouse (Wordsworth Classics)

To the Lighthouse (Wordsworth Classics)

by Virginia Woolf
3.9 out of 5 stars (27)  £1.99
Three Sea Stories (Wordsworth Classics)

Three Sea Stories (Wordsworth Classics)

by Joseph Conrad
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £1.99
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (31 Mar 1994)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140620281
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140620283
  • Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.7 x 3.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 615,995 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #94 in  Books > Fiction > 20th Century Classics > Conrad, Joseph

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Product Description
A novel, in which Charles Gould returns to South America determined to make a success of the inheritance left to him by his father, the San Tome mine. But his dreams are thwarted as the country is plunged into revolution.

From the Publisher
The Broadview Editions series is an effort to represent the ever-changing canon of literature in English by bringing together texts long regarded as classics with valuable, lesser-known literature. Newly type-set and produced on high-quality paper in trade paperback format, the Broadview Editions series is a delight to handle as well as to read.

Each volume includes a full introduction, chronology, bibliography, and explanatory notes along with a variety of documents from the period, giving readers a rich sense of the world from which the work emerged. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Nostromo (Penguin Popular Classics)
84% buy the item featured on this page:
Nostromo (Penguin Popular Classics) 4.1 out of 5 stars (8)
The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale (Penguin Popular Classics)
6% buy
The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale (Penguin Popular Classics) 4.2 out of 5 stars (13)
£2.00
Heart of Darkness
5% buy
Heart of Darkness 3.4 out of 5 stars (27)
£2.50
Three Sea Stories (Wordsworth Classics)
3% buy
Three Sea Stories (Wordsworth Classics) 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£1.99
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "Costaguana will always be run by butchers and tyrants.", 1 Jul 2004
By Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard (Penguin Modern Classics) (Paperback)
Often regarded as Conrad's masterwork, Nostromo is also Conrad's darkest novel, filled with betrayals at all levels and offering little hope for man's redemption. A novel of huge scope and political intrigue, it is also a novel in which no character actually wins. All must accept the ironies which fate has dealt them. Setting the novel in the imaginary South American country of Costaguana, the story centers around a silver mine in the mountains outside of the capital, Sulaco, vividly depicting its allure and the price each character pays for its success.

When Charles Gould, returns from England to claim and reopen the rich silver mine he has inherited from his father, he has good intentions--to provide jobs for the peasants and contribute to the economy of the town at the same time that he also profits. Soon, however, he becomes obsessed with wealth and power, and as the political climate gets hotter, he must pay off government officials, bandits, the church, and various armed revolutionaries to be able to work. Each of these groups is vividly depicted as working for its own ends and not for the good of the people, and with their goals focused on the real world, these characters have no self-awareness, nor do they develop it during the novel.

In contrast to these "unrealized" humans, Conrad presents several characters who develop some self-awareness through their experiences. Nostromo, a local legend, is a man of principle who has always kept his word. Martin Decoud, a newspaper man, is a nihilist who has editorialized against the revolution, though he has yet to test himself. Dr. Monygham, captured during a past revolution, broke under torture, and is now seeking absolution by fighting against this revolution. And the good and long-suffering wife of Charles Gould, Dona Emilia, who has lost her husband to his silver mine, now devotes her life to helping others.

When Nostromo agrees to protect a load of silver from revolutionaries by taking it out to sea, he takes Decoud with him, leaving him on an island with the silver when they almost sink. Decoud's reaction to his isolation, and Nostromo's reaction to the treasure that is suddenly "his," provide a dark commentary on idealism and human nature. In the conclusion, which includes a love story that feels tacked on, Conrad's darkest self is revealed, offering little hope of change and even less hope for man's redemption. Rich in atmosphere, vibrant in description, filled with characters representing all walks of life and philosophy, and set in a country where revolution is a way of life, the novel is full of dark portents and bleak political outcomes. Mary Whipple

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Conrad's finest work, 28 Jul 2003
There are many ‘classic’ novels that are very over-rated, but this is not one of them. This is a fascinating exploration of greed and obsession set in a fictional South American republic plagued by constant revolutions. 'Nostromo' explores the corrupting influence of the pursuit of material interests and is prescient in its depiction of the U.S.A.'s involvement in the politics of the region. Meticulous in its detail and insightful in its exploration of human motivations and moral weakness, the action flows quickly (for a Conrad novel!) and the many shifts in time and location steadily draw the reader into the bloody history of Costaguana and its long-suffering people. The characterisations are excellent (although the author struggles a little as usual with his female characters)as are the evocative descriptions of the landscape and society, and Conrad's prose style is simply superb. This is a great novel, which will reward the reader's perseverance.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Mind-boggling..., 19 May 2004
By A Customer
'Nostromo' is one of the finest novels ever written. The array of beautifully illustrated characters display every loathsome and admirable characteristic immaginable; Decoud is pompous, self righteous and detestable, but for his unbending love for Antonia. Gould is enigmatic, strong, calm but ultimately self-centered and consumed by his craving for wealth and success. Nostromo is benevolent, strong, selfless and courageous - but displays vanity in his obsession with being widely known and adored. Sotillo is utterly repulsive, cowardly, brutal and callous.

These characters, along with a whole cast of others, play out their lives, loves and struggles with a backdrop superbly constructed by Conrad. Costaguana is entirely believable and the political climate is not only an accurate depiction of South American states of the time, but an incisive critique of world politics and imperialism.

Conrad captures the world in miniature and does it with a level of skill unmatched by any other author. 'Nostromo' is by no means the easiest read, but once you've ploughed your way through it you'll have a warm glow of satisfaction and be very glad indeed that you invested the time. A classic.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Conrad Novel
This is an outstanding epic story from one of the greatest novelists of the twentieth century. The writing is rich and Conrad as always fully succeeds in taking you to another... Read more
Published 18 days ago by I. M. Knight

2.0 out of 5 stars Claimed to be Conrad's masterpiece but, like many of his large works, a bit of a bore
This is, I know, considered by many influential old critics (such as QD Leavis, I think) to be one of the best novels ever, and Conrad's masterpiece. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2007 by Greshon

3.0 out of 5 stars Wasn't that the space ship in Alien?
Style - 2/5
Plot - 4/5
Readability - 2/5

The first full length novel of JC's that I read. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2006 by James Chester

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Book ever written
Conrad is renowned for being one of the finest prose writers the world has ever known, with his awareness of politics in personal life and on a world scale greatly outstripping... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2001 by england1979@hotmail.com

3.0 out of 5 stars Narrative Pacing
The only thing great about this novel is the great effort it took to read it. There are occasional passages of descriptive power and rich atmosphere, but basically the... Read more
Published on 30 April 1999

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Beginnings: Intentions and Method

Beginnings: Intentions and...

Asking, "What is a beginning?", this book brings together history... Read more
£12.99

›Find similar items

 

More From Joseph Conrad

Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness (Penguin Classics)

Heart of Darkness has been considered for most of this century as a... Read more
£7.99 £5.99

 

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

›Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
4.5 out of 5 stars (72)£3.86
 Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
4.1 out of 5 stars (457)£6.49
 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4.1 out of 5 stars (161)£3.99
 The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
4.2 out of 5 stars (80)£3.86

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates