"A succession of men had sat in that chair. I became aware of that thought suddenly, vividly, as though each had left a little of himself between the four walls of these ornate bulkheads; as if a sort of composite soul, the soul of command, had whispered suddenly to mine of long days at sea and of anxious moments."
Joseph Conrad was one of the greatest writers of seafaring tales. Unlike the many dilettante writers of his time, Conrad had actually spent many years at sea in both French ships and in the British merchant marines where he worked was a crew member (steward, apprentice, able seaman) and then as third, second and first mate, until eventually achieving captain's rank. In The Shadow-Line and Two Other Tales Conrad showcases his natural narrative talent and his expertise in all things nautical.
Typhoon
The first novella is about a stubborn captain who sets out to sea in a steamer and who harbors doubts about other captains who were smart enough to avoid typhoons. The absolute violence and destructive natural force of the typhoon is described in great detail. The simplistic and unimaginative captain is a reminder of what a fatal mistake it is to attach oneself to hubris and ignore the words of those who have gone before us. It is a cautionary tale combined with a morality play and adventure log all rolled into one tense and fast-paced thriller.
The Secret Sharer
Definitely the weirdest of the three tales, The Secret Sharer is a story about a young and inexperienced captain who allows a stranger to come on to his ship. The captain describes this stranger as his double, having a similar appearance and age as himself. Soon, the captain becomes confused as to whether the stranger, who is desperately looking for a hiding place, is actually not himself. It is a story that Edgar Allan Poe could have written, with an almost supernatural tone to it. There is tremendous tension and suspense throughout the story, as the captain hides his stowaway from his crew in order to aid him.
The Shadow-Line
The third tale, The Shadow-Line, is definitely the most supernatural of the three. A young sailor gets his first captaincy leading a crew to Singapore. Before he even leaves port, his first mate Mr Burns, a seemingly superstitious and sickly man, tells him about the cruel and insane captain who ran his ship previously. The ship's crew then has to contend with a lack of wind and with spreading disease. The days wallow one into the other, and the desperation of the captain grows into a terrible pitch, all the while the spectral shadow of the former captain seems to loom large over him and the ship.
I must confess I had not read Conrad since high school as Heart of Darkness was required reading for all pupils of my generation. I greatly enjoyed these three novellas. Conrad is masterful in his prose, and each one of the tales takes you on a completely different adventure. If you love the sea as I do, you will enjoy it too.
