This excellent short story from Joseph Conrad was written at a time when the great author was involved in several different projects, including his masterpiece, Under Western Eyes. Despite taking most of his time to engage in completing his compelling book, his love for the sea was something he could never hide away or avoid, and thus The Secret Sharer was born—a story about a young man being forced into making the toughest choices of his life on his maiden voyage serving as a captain aboard a British Merchant Service vessel.
In appearance, The Secret Sharer shows how leniency can make a leader seem weak and alienate him from his crew. However, when the price that hangs in the balance has to do with whether or not to stay human and make the wisest possible choice, things get complicated pretty quickly.
Our hero was facing a similar predicament when, as an inexperienced captain, he took a stowaway under his protective wing, isolating himself as a result. How will his crew react? What is to become of the stowaway, and is the risk worthy enough to match its severity? You will soon find that nothing is as it first seems in this thrilling, deep and even chilling tale that will push the boundaries of your logic and common sense.
Despite the fact that he was unable to speak English fluently until his twenties, Joseph Conrad soon became one of the most well-known and skilled writers who have ever used the language for their stories and novels. Focusing mainly on nautical stories, he wrote many exceptional tales about the sea and its relation to the human condition.
The Secret Sharer remains to this day one of Conrad’s most exceptionally well-written and masterfully delivered seafaring stories, featuring an enchanting and haunting tale that will keep you glued to your seat to the very end.
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