An important addition to the Everyman series.
Reflecting Conrad's recurrent preoccupation with man's vulnerability and corruptibility, 'Lord Jim' (1900) is set in a maritime world, a setting shared by many of Conrad's other literary masterpieces. The "Patna" is an ill-manned ship, sailing with a party of pilgrims on Eastern waters. The chief mate on the "Patna" is the young and idealistic Jim, a dreamer of heroic deeds. When the "Patna" threatens to sink and cowardly officers decide to save their own lives, Jim despises them; but he too is overcome by panic and horror, and jumps at the last moment. The ship does not sink, the pilgrims are saved and Jim is stripped of his papers for his action. The rest of his tale is related by the observer Marlow and tells of Jim's attempt to make up for his moment of folly with a life of atonement.