The nigger of the Narcissus : a tale of the sea

Contained within this volume are two of Joseph Conrad's great tales of the sea, "The Nigger of the 'Narcissus'" and "The Secret Sharer." Drawing from his own experiences as a seaman, Conrad's writing is rich with the details of a life lived at sea. In "The Nigger of the 'Narcissus'" a ship's crew struggles with morale as a black member of the crew lay dying. In the shorter work "The Secret Sharer" a captain on his night watch discovers an officer that has come aboard has been accused of a murder. In both works through the context of a voyage at sea Conrad masterfully explores the psychological and moral issues that are at the heart of mankind. Often overlooked because of its controversial title, this novel from Joseph Conrad features a black West Indian protagonist, James Wait, who serves as a sailor on the merchant vessel known as Narcissus . Wait is overcome with illness on the voyage from Bombay to London, and the crew's reaction to his condition speaks volumes about differences in social class, psychology, and culture. A must-read for fans of maritime adventure tales, as well as for readers who appreciate Conrad's finely observed insights into human nature.