Comments on: "tales of ships and storms ... and the Congo."
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo/
Comments on MetaFilter post "tales of ships and storms ... and the Congo."Thu, 07 May 2015 16:41:24 -0800Thu, 07 May 2015 16:41:24 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60"tales of ships and storms ... and the Congo."
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo
"We know that Conrad was an admirer of Stevenson's work, and in fact that he thought more highly of Stevenson's South Seas nonfiction writings than of his novels, at least according to Colvin, who knew both men. To my knowledge, however, no one has connected the next set of dots, not just from Stevenson's writing to Conrad's, but from Stevenson's Samoan persona to Kurtz. Why not consider whether Stevenson's grandiose island life influenced Conrad's masterpiece?" <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2015/04/kurtz_and_heart_of_darkness_did_joseph_conrad_base_mr_kurtz_on_robert_louis.html">Where Did Kurtz Come From?</a> [<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2015/04/kurtz_and_heart_of_darkness_did_joseph_conrad_base_mr_kurtz_on_robert_louis.single.html">single page</a>], Matthew Pearl for <i>Slate</i>. Related: <a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/conrads-heart-of-darkness-gets-operatic-treatment/Content?oid=2928228">Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' gets operatic treatment</a> (<i>SF Examiner</i>) | <a href="https://operaparallele.org/heart-of-darkness-the-reviews-are-in/">reviews</a> (with stage photos).post:www.metafilter.com,2015:site.149456Thu, 07 May 2015 16:15:20 -0800joseph conrad is fully awesomejosephconradheartofdarknessimperialismracismkurtzcongorobertlouisstevensonmatthewpearlslatesanfranciscoexamineroperaliteratureclassicsclassicnovelsBy: Samizdata
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo#6039474
I gotta say, given the OP's handle, this strikes me as a bit of a Pepsi Blue situation...comment:www.metafilter.com,2015:site.149456-6039474Thu, 07 May 2015 16:41:24 -0800SamizdataBy: Oyéah
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo#6039501
I am just starting my Joseph Conrad readings, with The Secret Agent. Reading the intro, the writer of the intro gave away the entire plot. So just so you know, don't read the intros. I went looking for My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, not in this town. Is Heart of Darkness a better start than The Secret Ageent? Dances with Cannibals is on the list too.comment:www.metafilter.com,2015:site.149456-6039501Thu, 07 May 2015 17:04:31 -0800OyéahBy: orrnyereg
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo#6039637
I visited Stevenson's house in Apia (Vailima) about a year ago. They did a pretty good job of the restoration, aided by the fact that the original structure was constructed from California redwood, which apparently holds up rather well in the tropical climate.
In light of what the Samoans think about Stevenson (they call him 'Tusitala', which means 'storyteller') it's odd to think of him as a model for Kurtz, or whatever 'Samoan persona' is supposed to mean. He was, and is, held in very high regard by Samoans, who consider him one of their own. He maintained his own European-ness without trying to make the Samoans who worked for him to be European as well: making them wear Western clothes, making them give up kava, etc. When Stevenson died, according to his wishes he was buried on top of a mountain on his property. A line of chiefs and other locals lined the path, handing the coffin all the way up to the top. They called it the 'Trail of Loving Hearts'.comment:www.metafilter.com,2015:site.149456-6039637Thu, 07 May 2015 18:36:29 -0800orrnyeregBy: destro
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo#6039795
I thought <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Rom">Leon Rom</a> was the leading contender.comment:www.metafilter.com,2015:site.149456-6039795Thu, 07 May 2015 20:52:36 -0800destroBy: lollymccatburglar
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo#6039964
<em>Reading the intro, the writer of the intro gave away the entire plot. So just so you know, don't read the intros.</em>
This happened to me the first time I read <em>The Great Gatsby</em> and I'm still not over it.
I really liked <em>The Secret Agent</em>, it almost felt like a Graham Greene novel where you can see the trainwreck coming from a mile away, but are too hooked on the pathos to care. <em>Heart of Darkness</em> is great too, though. You know what, just read them all.comment:www.metafilter.com,2015:site.149456-6039964Fri, 08 May 2015 01:48:50 -0800lollymccatburglarBy: Pembquist
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo#6040665
This link I'm giving, if your not familiar with it, is not intended to be buzz kill or "yes, but" contrariness. I absolutely love Conrad, to call him a premier stylist is damning with lavish praise as far as I'm concerned, reading him is like listening to music. So that is where I am coming from. This <a href="http://kirbyk.net/hod/image.of.africa.html">link</a> is Chinua Achebe's criticism of Heart of Darkness and Conrad.comment:www.metafilter.com,2015:site.149456-6040665Fri, 08 May 2015 10:56:40 -0800PembquistBy: maiamaia
http://www.metafilter.com/149456/tales-of-ships-and-storms-and-the-Congo#6041750
very interesting. Also worth reading Stevenson's wikipedia page. i had no idea he achieved so much, so young, so ill (and incredibly supportive parents). He really did dare to be different, it usually takes a big ego to do that it seemscomment:www.metafilter.com,2015:site.149456-6041750Sat, 09 May 2015 08:34:42 -0800maiamaia
¡°Why?¡± asked Larry, in his practical way. "Sergeant," admonished the Lieutenant, "you mustn't use such language to your men." "Yes," accorded Shorty; "we'll git some rations from camp by this evenin'. Cap will look out for that. Meanwhile, I'll take out two or three o' the boys on a scout into the country, to see if we can't pick up something to eat." Marvor, however, didn't seem satisfied. "The masters always speak truth," he said. "Is this what you tell me?" MRS. B.: Why are they let, then? My song is short. I am near the dead. So Albert's letter remained unanswered¡ªCaro felt that Reuben was unjust. She had grown very critical of him lately, and a smarting dislike coloured her [Pg 337]judgments. After all, it was he who had driven everybody to whatever it was that had disgraced him. He was to blame for Robert's theft, for Albert's treachery, for Richard's base dependence on the Bardons, for George's death, for Benjamin's disappearance, for Tilly's marriage, for Rose's elopement¡ªit was a heavy load, but Caro put the whole of it on Reuben's shoulders, and added, moreover, the tragedy of her own warped life. He was a tyrant, who sucked his children's blood, and cursed them when they succeeded in breaking free. "Tell my lord," said Calverley, "I will attend him instantly." HoME²Ô¾®¿Õ·¬ºÅѸÀ×Á´½Ó
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