Victory (novel)

"Victory: An Island Tale" is a novel by Joseph Conrad first published in 1915.

Once regarded as comparatively minor amongst Conrad's works, "Victory" has grown in reputation. Its depiction of the central character, Axel Heyst, and his renunciation of the world, is influenced by Conrad's reading of Schopenhauer. Heyst's alienation stems in large part from a somewhat ascetic upbringing. During the course of the novel, however, Heyst is drawn to commit to life when he falls in love with Lena, a girl in a ladies' touring orchestra. Although the climax of the novel is tragic, it is this commitment that provides the title's ironic victory.

The novel has been adapted to film more times than any other Conrad novel, especially outside the U.S. The most notable adaptations include: a 1919 silent version directed by Maurice Tourneur featuring Jack Holt, Seena Owen, Lon Chaney, Sr., and Wallace Beery; the 1930 William Wellman directed Dangerous Paradise, starring Nancy Carroll, Richard Arlen and Warner Oland; the 1940 version, featuring Fredric March, Betty Field, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke; and, most recently, a much-criticized 1995 version directed by Mark Peploe, with Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, Irène Jacob, and Rufus Sewell.

References

*citation | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/08/AR2005050800989.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
title = Joseph Conrad's Dark 'Victory'
first = JONATHAN
last = YARDLEY
publisher = Washington Post
date = May 9, 2005
accessed = 2007-04-10

External links

*gutenberg|no=9358|name=Victory