Four superb stories form the contents of this volume. Ranging from Southeast Asia to London and to Spain, they illustrates some of Conrad's most recurrent themes. "The Planter of Malata," for example, centers on the frustrations and illusions rendered through the pursuit of misplaced love. The same theme is at work as part of the background to the last story as well, "Because of the Dollars," which works at two levels--the self deception about his wife inflicted on a good, well meaning ship's captain and a similar willingness to fall to the predation of low men on the part of a "painted woman." Fortunately, the "painted woman," in this case, isn't reduced to the cliched "prostitute with a heart of gold," but she does demonstrate how even those caught in the most extreme positions in life can find redemption, albeit at a terrible cost. And redemption is a rare thing in Conrad. And just to make sure you realize it, the final image of the captain is of someone left alone and hopeless, despite his good works.

In between are two other tales. In "The Partner," Conrad experiments with the elliptical, both at the literal level in the sentence and the narrative level with his story. It isn't his best effort, and it gives way to the third story in the volume, "The Inn of the Two Witches--A Find." This piece resembles something concocted in the mind of Edgar Allan Poe. Even down to the mechanism of murder. But more, it's atmosphere pulsates with a dark and stormy landscape, fitting for the isolated fiends the hero uncovers in his journey.

Good adventure all the way around, with "Because of the Dollars" perhaps the strongest in this regard. And the one most likely to fit in with other novels and tales Conrad fashioned out of the landscape of Southeast Asia. ( )

Perhaps, after all, it's as a short story writer that I most love Conrad. This collection of four tales is superb, each one finely crafted and leaping from the page. If you've read 'Victory' and wondered what the fuss is about Joseph Conrad, this is a much better book to turn to. ( )

sometimes i love j.c. sometimes i can't focus. him or me? ( )