The Secret Sharer written by Joseph Conrad is a gripping and psychological novella that explores themes of identity, duality, and moral ambiguity. The story follows an unnamed captain who takes command of a ship and discovers a mysterious stowaway named Leggatt. The captain harbors Leggatt in his cabin, forming a secretive bond with him. Conrad delves into the captain's internal struggle as he grapples with the decision to protect and hide Leggatt, blurring the lines between loyalty, duty, and personal ethics. The relationship between the captain and Leggatt serves as a metaphor for the protagonist's inner conflict and the hidden aspects of his own psyche. Through vivid descriptions and introspective narrative, Conrad immerses readers in the captain's psychological journey, as he confronts his fears, questions his identity, and faces the consequences of his choices. This book raises profound questions about the complexities of human nature, the search for self-identity, and the blurred boundaries between right and wrong.
Joseph Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist, considered as one of the prominent novelists to write in the English language. He was born on 3 December 1857. Though he did not speak English fluently until his twenties, he came to be considered a master prose stylist who guided a non-English sensibility into English literature. He was assigned British nationality in 1886 but always regarded himself a Pole. He enrolled in the French Merchant Marine and began to work on British ships, learning English from his shipmates. He was made a master mariner and worked more than sixteen years before an event motivated him to try his hand at writing. He wrote stories and novels, many with a nautical setting, that represents trials of the human spirit in the middle of an unexpressive, transparent universe. During his lifetime Conrad was praised for the assets of his prose and his offerings of dangerous life at sea and in foreign places. His works include the novels Almayer's Folly (1895), Lord Jim (1900), Nostromo (1904), and The Secret Agent (1907) and the short story 'Heart of Darkness ' (1902). He died in August 1924.
