An Outcast of the Islands

Joseph Conrad

Maison d'édition: CLXBX

Synopsis

"An Outcast of the Islands" by Joseph Conrad is a powerful and unsettling novel that delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of exile, moral failure, and the destructive force of unchecked desire. Set in the lush yet unforgiving world of the Malay Archipelago, the story continues Conrad's exploration of colonial life and its corrosive effects on both individuals and cultures.

The novel follows Peter Willems, a disgraced European trader who is cast out of colonial society after a series of ethical and personal failures. Seeking refuge, Willems is taken in by a native ruler, where he attempts to rebuild his status through manipulation and ambition. His inner weaknesses—pride, greed, and self-deception—ultimately drive him toward betrayal and moral collapse.

Through Willems's tragic journey, Conrad exposes the fragility of civilization and the illusions of superiority held by colonial powers. The tropical setting, vividly rendered and morally charged, serves as both backdrop and catalyst for the characters' inner conflicts. Indigenous cultures are portrayed with complexity, highlighting the tensions and misunderstandings that arise when worlds collide.

Dark, introspective, and psychologically intense, An Outcast of the Islands examines the consequences of isolation and the cost of moral compromise. Conrad's nuanced prose and unflinching analysis of character foreshadow the themes that would define his later masterpieces, including alienation, guilt, and the struggle between conscience and desire.

A compelling work of literary fiction, An Outcast of the Islands is essential reading for those interested in classic literature, psychological novels, and Conrad's profound critique of imperialism and human weakness.

Disponible depuis: 07/02/2026.

Longueur d'impression: 364 pages.

D'autres livres qui pourraient vous intéresser

History of Herodotus The - Book...

Herodotus, George Rawlinson

One of the masterpieces of classical literature, the "Histories" describes how a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city states united to repel the might of the Persian empire. But while this epic struggle forms the core of his work, Herodotus' natural curiosity frequently gives rise to colorful digressions - a description of the natural wonders of Egypt; an account of European lake-dwellers; and far-fetched accounts of dog-headed men and gold-digging ants. With its kaleidoscopic blend of fact and legend, the "Histories" offers a compelling Greek view of the world of the fifth century BC.
BOOK 5: TERPSICHORE: The Persians left behind by King Darius in Europe, who had Megabazus for their general, reduced, before any other Hellespontine state, the people of Perinthus, who had no mind to become subjects of the king.

Voir livre

The Poison Belt

Arthur Conan Doyle

A follow up to Arthur Conan Doyles well known novel, The Lost World, the Poison Belt is a short story set over a single 24 hour span of time. On the Anniversary of their momentous trip to the Plateau, as depicted in The Lost World, the irascible Professor Challenger calls his companions to his home in Rochester with a curious directive: "Bring Oxygen". What can it mean? Does it have anything to do with his dire warnings printed in the Times that morning? Can it truly be, as he says... The End of the World?  
Written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1913 and Narrated here by Michael Ward.

Voir livre

Baffling Beasts - 15 Tales of...

Walter de la Mare, Arlton Eadie,...

Fifteen horror stories about strange beings and behaviours that defy conventional definitions. 
Contents: 
Warning Wings by Arlton Eadie (Weird Tales, 1929) 
A seemingly insignificant white moth. 
Mother of Toads by Clark Ashton Smith (WT, 1938) 
An unusual witch. 
The Destroying Horde by Donald Wandrei (WT, 1935) 
The first BLOB story? 
Caterpillars by E. F. Benson (The Room in the Tower, 1912) 
Terrible things in an Italian villa. 
The Urbanite by Ewen Whyte (WT, 1950) 
The great city is never still. 
Rats by F. A. M. Webster (At Dead of Night, 1931) 
A plague of rats. 
The Malignant Invader by F. B. Long (WT, 1932) 
A creature from the bowels of the earth. 
The Horror in the Museum by H. P. Lovecraft (WT, 1933) 
A private wax museum that specialises in the grotesque. 
My Father, the Cat by H. Slesar (Fantastic Universe, 1957) 
A most unusual cat. 
The Seeking Thing by Janet Hirsch (Magazine of Horror, 1964) 
Something in the middle of the road. 
They by R. B. Johnson (WT, 1936) 
They dwell in Dead Man's Canyon. 
The Hyena by Robert E. Howard (WT, 1928) 
A man with an unusual ability. 
Sredni Vashtar by Saki (The Chronicles of Clovis, 1911) 
A secret in the garden shed. 
Demons of the Film Colony by Theodore LeBerthon (WT, 1932) 
A tale of 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein'. 
A:B:O. by Walter de la Mare (Cornhill, 1896) 
The excavation of a metallic chest.

Voir livre

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz...

L. Frank Baum

A California earthquake sends Dorothy Gale and her new friends--Zeb the farm boy, Jim the cab-horse, and Eureka the mischievous kitten--tumbling through a crack in the ground. Deep beneath the earth, Dorothy is reunited with her old friend the Wizard of Oz and his troupe of nine tiny piglets.Together, Dorothy, the Wizard, and their friends travel through many fantastic lands, where they encounter the Mangaboos, people growing like vegetables in the ground; cross the Valley of Voe, where dama-fruit has turned everyone invisible; and are captured by mysterious flying Gargoyles. At last, the intrepid travelers reach Oz, where they have many unforgettable encounters with such favorites as the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry TiGerman, Princess Ozma and the wooden Sawhorse.

Voir livre

Bitterroot Badlands (Stonecroft...

B.N. Rundell

LUST, HATRED, GREED, AND VENGEANCE ALL COMBINE TO MAKE THIS JOURNEY ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AND DEADLIEST OF THEM ALL. 
They had rescued a young Nez Percé warrior from the warring Blackfoot and were bound on a journey to take him home to his people. The vast land of the Bitterroot Mountains and the badlands that lay at their feet held more obstacles than they expected. 
It was to prove to be a treacherous journey, fraught with natural disasters and conflicts with familiar foes. But when confronted with evil of another sort, an evil that sought to destroy their very own, it became kill or be killed, and blood would soon paint the mountains and the plains of the wilderness. 
Yet even in the most challenging times, friends can be found, and old acquaintances renewed. But it takes more than friendship and new allies to dispel the wickedness that comes from the darkness of malevolence. And when vengeance drives the demented, can there be deliverance? When women warriors prove their mettle, anything can happen, and usually does.

Voir livre

Peter Pan - Peter and Wendy

J. M. Barrie

J.M. Barrie created the story Peter and Wendy known the world over as Peter Pan and in doing so gifted the world one of the most beloved characters in literature. It was first published in 1911 as Peter and Wendy. It became almost an instant hit and has since become one of the world's most beloved classics.
Kevin Hayes The Story-Man brings J.M. Barrie's magical story of 'the boy who never grew up' to life in this audiobook version.
You may recognize Kevin Hayes the Story-Man from the Nightly Bedtime Story Podcast. Thousands of children and adults from all over the world listen as he tells them a Bedtime Story every night. You can now enjoy his storytelling as he narrates this audiobook version of J.M. Barrie's classic novel Peter Pan, Peter and Wendy.
If you are not familiar with the story of Peter Pan, Peter and Wendy, it is about a boy named Peter Pan who never grew up because he always wanted to 'stay a boy and always have fun'. He lives on a magical island called Neverland with the Lost Boys. Neverland is a magical place we go to when we dream and as children we can actually fly there with the help of fairy dust from Peter Pan's fairy friend, Tinkerbell. The island is not full of only fun and games, but also many other characters including the wicked, Captain Hook and his band of nasty pirates. One memorable night, Peter and Tinkerbell fly into a window of the bedroom belonging to three children, Wendy, John, and Michael and with the help of Tink's magical fairy dust, helps them fly to Neverland where they take part in many exciting adventures.
This is a story that can truly be enjoyed by everyone even if you're an adult and have forgotten how to fly.

Voir livre