The Rover

by Joseph Conrad

Overview

It is the age of Napoleon. France and England are at war, and Peyrol, a retired naval gunner living in the countryside beyond Toulon, distrusts all landsmen and their slogans.

He even distrusts Eugene Real, a naval lieutenant who frequently stays at the inn where Peyrol lodges. But he correctly assesses Real's usefulness to a plan he devises to mislead the English about French intentions.

Peyrol's plot succeeds brilliantly. It even fools the great Admiral Nelson, no mean judge of a ruse. But Peyrol, alas, loses his life and we feel, as we finish this book, such is the author's grip on us, that we have just parted for the last time from a dear friend and companion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781410102836
Publisher:	Fredonia Books (NL)
Publication date:	05/29/2003
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.16(w) x 8.02(h) x 0.78(d)

About the Author

Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) was one of the outstanding novelists writing in English at the turn of the twentieth century. His works include Heart of Darkness, Lord Jim, Nostromo, and The Secret Agent.

Date of Birth:

December 3, 1857

Date of Death:

August 3, 1924

Place of Birth:

Berdiczew, Podolia, Russia

Place of Death:

Bishopsbourne, Kent, England

Education:

Tutored in Switzerland. Self-taught in classical literature. Attended maritime school in Marseilles, France

Table of Contents

List of illustrations; General Editors' Preface; Acknowledgements; Chronology; Abbreviations and Note on Editions; Introduction; The Rover; The texts: an essay; Apparatus; Textual notes; Appendices; Explanatory notes; Glossaries; Maps.

Editorial Reviews

"It is the subtilized past, through the aroma and the intuitive touches, which comes alive." (The Times Literary Supplement (London))

From the Publisher

Narrator Stephan Rudnicki delivers an impressive performance of Conrad’s story, which centers on the mysterious Jean Peyrol, a French native who has spent his life roaming the world’s oceans. Seeking retirement, Peyrol returns to his country in the aftermath of the French Revolution but finds confusion even in his isolated place of retreat. Rudnicki’s resonant voice meanders through the novel’s picturesque descriptions. His command of French pronunciation helps to naturally blend the language into the prose. He adopts Peyrol’s unconcerned air as he vocalizes the sea rover in a tone that sharply contrasts with the frenzied, nervous voices of the Revolutionary survivors. Rudnicki renders a certain disquietude in the dialogue, revealing the disconnect between characters. His performance intuitively reflects the natural cadence of Conrad’s prose. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

MAY 2020 - AudioFile