[audiobook] Under Western Eyes (Xist Classics) by Joseph Conrad in Arts-Photography

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Broadview Edition is the one to getBy D.LaylandThis is one terrific read from the pen of the inimitable Joseph Conrad. It is a novel wrapped in history. the history leading up to the Russian Revolution. which Conrad prophesized correctly would come sooner rather than later. The novel demonstrates how versatile Conrad is in handling complex material and reflects his perspective on political events of the day. The Broadview Edition has interesting additional information about the times in Russia. such as press accounts and writings by the individuals involved in the historical event upon which the novel is based. as well as letters. sometimes humerous and always humble. from the author to his literary contemporaries about the novel. The Broadview edition also has frequent footnotes. conveniently located at the bottom of each page. that I found to be helpful in understanding the significance of various references made in the text of the novel itself. There is also a tad lengthy political essay from Conrad. written at about the same time. that expresses his point of view on Russia and the events of the day vis-a-vis Europe and the "Far East". If you like to really dive into a subject matter. the novel togeher with the ancillary materials found in the Broadview Edition. are highly recommended.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Riveting story. brilliant techniqueBy Robert in SFOVery timely topic as it tells the story of a terrorist plot set in czarist Russia. Conrad tells this story in an unusual way. with the English narrator using the diary of the main character (a Russian) as a kind of source material. Hence the title. telling the story of Russian revolutionists through his Western eyes. Amazing that the story was written in the decade before the revolution. Fascinating characters. Almost like Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment as a psychological study of the main characters internal struggles with his own integrity.25 of 28 people found the following review helpful. Conrad Cant Stop A-RockinBy Gavin FarrellConrad is a real star. Im rather fond of him. Under Western Eyes is about living in a time of revolutionary urgency. individual fragility in a delicate system. and personal honor.To summarize; Razumov. the Hero is a university student in Russia post 1905 but pre 1917 who keeps to himself and has no real family and no close friends. A fellow student and a revolutionary. Victor Haldin. assasinates a local oppressive Tsarist autocrat. He then takes a chance and takes momentary asylum with Razumov. asking him to help him get out of the city. Razumov is an evolutionary progressive. not a revolutionary. Not willing to risk association with a radical like Haldin and destroy his entire life. Razumov turns him in to the police. and Haldin is subsequently hung.The rest of the novel deals with Razumovs struggle with himself- he betrayed. and he has to live with a lie. Complicating things. he falls in love with Haldins sister in exile. Raz cant bear it though. and eventually he does the right thing. but things get messy.Thats the general plot. but the real meat of the novel is in the characters and the ideas underlying the conversations between them. The idea of how you justify revolution. the chaos of revolution vs the order of gradual reform. the unwillingness and helplessness of the individual caught in it all. And theres a continual theme of the diference between East and West.Razumov reminds me a bit of Crime and Punishments Raskolnikov- an isolated university student waxing the time away in a single apartment. brooding over Big Ideas and being slowly crushed by a powerful conscience. The stuff of modernity. Dostoyevsky was a little bit better. so thats why Under Western Eyes only gets 4 stars.