Nostromo

by Joseph Conrad · 1900

Nostromo is Joseph Conrad's 1904 novel set in the fictional South American republic of Costaguana. The story follows the Italian sailor Giovanni Battista "Nostromo" Fidanza, the foreman of the port of Sulaco, as he becomes entangled in the political turmoil surrounding the San Tomé silver mine. Through flashbacks and glimpses of the future, Conrad explores capitalist exploitation, rebellion, greed, loyalty, honor, and the moral costs of wealth. The novel is celebrated for its masterful narrative technique, richly detailed setting, and its portrayal of a society caught between imperialist ambitions and local resistance.