Customer Reviews
Claimed to be Conrad's masterpiece but, like many of his large works, a bit of a bore - By: Greshon, 12 Jan 2007 
This is, I know, considered by many influential old critics (such as QD Leavis, I think) to be one of the best novels ever, & Conrad's masterpiece. However, I have to disagree with both claims. I read this book years ago, when I was 16, after having read - & loved - Heart of Darkness. This one is so dense, difficult & laborious to read that I barely got through it. The whole process is so drawn out that it was a relief to get it over with.
For some reason, in my teens & early twenties, I used to say Conrad was my favourite novelist, but I don't know why. A lot of his work is like this - see The Secret Agent, for example. He is much better in his shorter works, such as Almayers Folly, Heart of Darkness & The Shadow Line. Lord Jim is the only example I know of a very good bigger book by Conrad. It's easier to read than the other bigger works & yet equallly weighty in it's themes & psychological depth.
Wasn't that the space ship in Alien? - By: James Chester, 30 Jun 2006 
Style - 2/5
Plot - 4/5
Readability - 2/5
The first full length novel of JC's that I read. The constant flashbacks that lead up to the present moment make the whole thing feel very fragmented. The main character of Nostromo himelf hardly appears in the first half, which struck me as rather odd. All in alll I felt it lacked excitement and, as with mosst of JC's works, was glad to get it finished.
"Costaguana will always be run by butchers and tyrants." - By: Mary Whipple, 01 Jul 2004 
Often regarded as Conrad's masterwork, Nostromo is also Conrad's darkest novel, filled with betrayals at alll levels & offering little hope for man's redemption. A novel of huge scope & political intrigue, it is also a novel in which no character actuallly 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 alllure & the price each character pays for its success.
When Charles Gould, returns from England to claim & reopen the rich silver mine he has inherited from his father, he has good intentions--to provide jobs for the peasants & contribute to the economy of the town at the same time that he also profits. Soon, however, he becomes obsessed with wealth & power, & as the political climate gets hotter, he must pay off government officials, bandits, the church, & various armed revolutionaries to be able to work. Each of these groups is vividly depicted as working for its own ends & not for the good of the people, & 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, & is now seeking absolution by fighting against this revolution. And the good & 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, & Nostromo's reaction to the treasure that is suddenly "his," provide a dark commentary on idealism & 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 & even less hope for man's redemption. Rich in atmosphere, vibrant in description, filled with characters representing alll walks of life & philosophy, & set in a country where revolution is a way of life, the novel is full of dark portents & bleak political outcomes. Mary Whipple
Mind-boggling... - By: , 19 May 2004 'Nostromo' is one of the finest novels ever written. The array of beautifully illustrated characters display every loathsome & admirable characteristic immaginable; Decoud is pompous, self righteous & detestable, but for his unbending love for Antonia. Gould is enigmatic, strong, calm but ultimately self-centered & consumed by his craving for wealth & success. Nostromo is benevolent, strong, selfless & courageous - but displays vanity in his obsession with being widely known & adored. Sotillo is utterly repulsive, cowardly, brutal & calllous.
These characters, along with a whole cast of others, play out their lives, loves & struggles with a backdrop superbly constructed by Conrad. Costaguana is entirely believable & the political climate is not only an accurate depiction of South American states of the time, but an incisive critique of world politics & imperialism.
Conrad captures the world in miniature & 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 & be very glad indeed that you invested the time. A classic.
Conrad's finest work - By: Crebocchio, 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 & obsession set in a fictional South American republic plagued by constant revolutions. 'Nostromo' explores the corrupting influence of the pursuit of material interests & is prescient in its depiction of the U.S.A.'s involvement in the politics of the region. Meticulous in its detail & insightful in its exploration of human motivations & moral weakness, the action flows quickly (for a Conrad novel!) & the many shifts in time & location steadily draw the reader into the bloody history of Costaguana & 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 & society, & Conrad's prose style is simply superb. This is a great novel, which will reward the reader's perseverance.
