About this book
Joseph Conrad's The Secret Sharer plunges listeners into a psychological mystery of conscience and identity set aboard a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Siam. When a young, untested sea captain discovers a man clinging to his ship's side, he makes a fateful decision: to hide the mysterious stranger in his quarters. What begins as an act of mercy evolves into a profound moral dilemma that will test the captain's judgment, loyalty, and sense of self.
Published in 1910, this novella stands as one of Conrad's most haunting explorations of duality and isolation at sea. The stranger, Leggatt, becomes both the captain's confidant and his shadow—a man whose secrets mirror the captain's own inner turmoil. As the ship navigates treacherous waters and suspicious crew members, the tension between duty and complicity intensifies, forcing the captain to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and personal responsibility.
Conrad's masterful prose captures the atmospheric beauty and underlying menace of tropical seas while examining the fine line between right and wrong. The novella's intimate narrative voice draws readers into the captain's troubled mind, where questions of justice, loyalty, and identity blur into profound ambiguity.
Ideal for lovers of literary fiction and classic sea stories, The Secret Sharer rewards listeners seeking psychological depth and philosophical complexity. Perfect for those fascinated by moral dilemmas and unreliable perspectives, this timeless tale continues to captivate modern audiences with its exploration of human secrets and the masks we wear.
