Nostromo

By: Joseph Conrad

Narrated by: Frank Muller

One of the great adventure novels of our language creates a most engaging central character, Nostromo. A picturesque man of action and popular hero, Nostromo lives to be "well-spoken of" by the citizens of Costaguana, the mythical South American banana republic where the story takes place. Around this figure, Conrad spins a story of revolution, politics, and racial conflict as complex as Nostromo, the man whose greatest enemy is himself.

Public Domain (P)1987 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"The reading by the acclaimed Frank Muller has a fine, dramatic touch." (Library Journal)
"Conrad, I think, was right in regarding it [Nostromo] as his greatest creation, and it seems to me one of the world's great novels." (F.R. Leavis)

Complex plotting showing human nature in adversity

'He was ruined in every way, but a man possessed of passion is not a bankrupt in life.'
J. Conrad, Nostromo

A splendid story of romanticism, adventure and vice. Conrad employs an intricate narrative structure, intertwining four character studies and differing points of view around Sulaco, an imagined South American country, a ticking bomb with a violent past. He perfectly contrasts these against the fabulous scenery of mist-hidden mountains and a silver mine.

The novel begins in the midst of things with frequent flashbacks and some glimpses forward, as information is gradually revealed.

It’s filled the with spirited characters, including, of course, the magnificent Nostromo, who is a natural born leader, valiant, virtuous and very handsome, ready and able for center stage in the revolution about to destroy Sulaco.

A master of suspense and designer extraordinaire of complex plots, Conrad thereby transforms an otherwise typical tale of romantic adventure into a quite serious study of human nature in adversity, with themes of capitalism and imperialism and revolution.

I abandoned listening to this magnificent book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This is a truely great book but does not function as an audio book - too many characters and too much description. It's really difficult to keep tabs on all of the elements.

Masterful Narration of an Incredible Novel

This is a terrific narration of a magnificent book. It's too bad that Frank Muller's beautiful performance did not age well on tape (I assume), and the whole narration is marred by a barely audible low-pitch background humm. Besides this version, I have two other performances of this novel, one free and one purchased. As fantastic and sophisticated as this novel this, it is the narrator that makes or breaks it. Having heard the two other narration of this book, one realizes what a MASTERFUL narrator Frank Muller was. It is too bad that he is no longer with us.

A dry reading of a wonderful novel

This has always been one of my favorite novels. Subtitled, "A Paradise of Snakes" in some printings, it's a great story with incredible characters and masterful use of the language. I remember once reading that this was Conrad's expose of discovering America. And what an analogy it is (and perhaps the precursor of the Spaghetti Western. . . ). This reader, however, turns poetic prose into something of a snore.

I love Audio Books

Narration is good, but the recording isn’t perfect, the imperfections don’t really detract.

Very much enjoyed the book.