The Rover (Heart of Oak Sea Classics Series) (Paperback)

by Joseph Conrad (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"It is the subtilized past, through the aroma and the intuitive touches, which comes alive." -- The Times Literary Supplement - London

Review

"It is the subtilized past, through the aroma and the intuitive touches, which comes alive." (The Times Literary Supplement (London))

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st owl/heart of oak ed edition (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805062637
• ISBN-13: 978-0805062632
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,589,411 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprise discovery with immense power., October 25, 1999

By	Wick Allison (Dallas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Until I came across the "Heart of Oak" series I had never heard of this compelling Conrad work. The editors have plucked from obscurity a psychological drama that is beautiful in its language, haunting in its imagery, and compelling to read. A real page-turner from the master.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling tale of events in Toulon and nearby areas, February 1, 2000

By	Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I would not have know of this book had I not seen the reference in the Afterward of Dewey Lambdin's book, "H.M.S. Cockerel," which dealt with the British evacuation of Toulon in late 1793. The book was originally published in 1923, and just reissued in 1999. It was the last novel completed by Joseph Conrad. It is the tale of the sailor, Peyrol, but also of poor, mad Arlette, her parents murdered in the massacre in Toulon after the British evacuation, who roams silently about, her shifting eyes forever seeking someone. The story starts in late 1796, after the temporary British evacuation of the Mediterranean, with Peyrol's arrival in Toulon in command of a prize ship. After setting the stage for the story, events jump forward to the 1803-1805 time period when Admiral Lord Nelson was in command of a fleet blockading the port. The story has a tendency to shift from scene to scene, with some flashbacks in time that sometimes make it a little difficult to follow the sequence of events, but overall it is well written and a very good tale. It is a shift from the usual naval adventure, but fills in a part of the events taking place in that time period.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Later works of Conrad, August 25, 2001

By	Doug Anderson (Miami Beach, Florida United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The high renaissance of Conrad was Nigger of the "Narcissus", Heart of Darkness, Lord Jim and Nostromo period and what a period that was. These later works are Conrad in his manneristic style. That is to say his strengths as well as his flaws show. Works like Victory, Rescue, Arrow of Gold, and Rover are like the works written by an aging Prospero, but still Prospero. Rover is by far the best of these late works though each exert a unique charm to any lover of Conrad. Rover is like a last and momentary return to glory for this master of sea tales. I bought tha Malay editions of these late works and am very glad to have these hard to find books. Rover is a pleasing meditation on the coasts of France of a mariners return to land after a long life at sea. But looming on the horizon are English ships! The old mariner has one last adventure and it will cost you much pleasure as it unfolds to a final sea confrontation. My favorite thing about this book is the meditation on the bonds and ethics of sea comraderie which here takes precedence over those of nationality.