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Under Western Eyes

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Under Western Eyes

By: Joseph Conrad
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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Hailed as one of Joseph Conrad's finest literary achievements, Under Western Eyes tells the story of a young man unwittingly caught in the political turmoil of pre-revolutionary czarist Russia. It begins with a bomb that kills its intended target, a hated Russian minister of police, along with several innocent bystanders. A young student named Razumov hides the perpetrator, who questions his moral strength and integrity.

Set in St. Petersburg amid intrigue and espionage, this novel hauntingly speaks to the broader, timeless question of human responsibility and honor. Conrad said that his intent was to render "the psychology of Russia," a country being driven to anarchy by misguided revolutionaries. This masterwork, published six years before the Russian Revolution, is a chillingly accurate prophecy of what was to come.

(P)1997 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Russia Imperialism
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Critic reviews

“A century after its publication, Under Western Eyes is as compelling and as relevant to our own age as it was to an earlier age of political terrorism.”

(Sanford Schwartz, Pennsylvania State University)

“One does not know what deserves more admiration: the amazing subject, the fitting together, the boldness of so difficult an undertaking, the patience in the development of the story, [or] the complete understanding and exhausting of the subject.”

(André Gide )

“Under Wester Eyes is written with that intensity of vision, that complete adsorption in and by the subject, and that astonishing mastery of the subtleties of languange which have ever distinguished its author’s best work...Mr. Conrad has given us an able and convincing study of a soul in the cruel, remorseless grip of fate. He has never done anything better.”

(Morning Post, 1911)

“Keen and merciless in exposure and meticulously searching in analysis, Under Western Eyes is a psychologic study or remarkable penetration, and, as a novel, is entitled to rank with the best that Mr. Joseph Conrad has given us...The book startles one by its amazing truth and by the intimate knowledge of the human heart that reveals in its varied and masterly characterisation.”

(Pall Mall Gazette, 1911)

“The whole is a work which must rank with the masterpieces of English fiction.”

(Westminster Gazette, 1911)
All stars
Most relevant
A gripping spy thriller that should be better known. Written before the Russian Revolution; but its world of spies, terrorists, secret police, idealists and cynics, and everyone stuck in between their machinations has stayed completely relevant for a hundred years.

A jarring framing device that interrupts the story at intervals, is probably what keeps this out of the top of the Conrad canon. But I find it more enjoyable than The Secret Agent, maybe because of the more relatable protagonist-- the reluctant double-agent Razumov, full of bitter contempt for both sides, tormented by his conscience, and hopelessly between a rock and a hard place.

As for the audio-- the reader makes no attempt to dramatise or provide individual voices for the characters, but reads in a clear, consistent, slightly clinical tone that works well with Conrad's prose but less well with the scenes of high drama and emotion. In the absence of a really great performance this a decent version, neither adding nor detracting from the book.

Gripping spy thriller

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Joseph Conrad provides a beautifully told story through the insights and words (mostly) of a British journalist covering Russia at the turn of the Century. Taking place in St Petersburg and Switzerland we gain insights into revolutionaries, terrorism, plots, state police, betrayal, love, trust, bravery and lots more. The story is told through a range of characters whose lives and relationships connect - some happily, some tensely, some tragically. Beautifully written and narrated it is filled with tension, suspicion and suspense, although elements become more predictable as the story unfolds. There's a neat twist on what is it that makes 'character' and whether the villain himself displays more than some of the other 'revolutionists'. Interesting and enjoyable classic.

Suspicion, suspense and story-telling

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From early on I noticed strong parallels with Dostoyevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' - and was then surprised to discover that Conrad had little regard for Dostoyevsky. The theme is similar: a young, emotionally rootless student commits a crime; in this case the betrayal to death of a Revolutionary fellow student, only to find an intuitive need for personal redemption.
The structure of the novel makes it difficult to follow at times, but I found that the synopsis of the plot on Wikipedia helped me to navigate the shifts in time and place without giving away what was to come next (because both the novel and the synopsis are written in four distinct parts). This difficulty was, in part, due to a rather wooden narration, with limited tone, and not much attempt to characterize the different protagonists. However, I managed to acclimatise myself to this reasonably quickly.
I found Conrad's portrayal of the diehard revolutionaries as ' dazzled by the base glitter of mixed motives, everlastingly betrayed by short sighted wisdom' had a convincing psychological authenticity to it. Would I recommend this novel? Yes, I would.

A multifaceted study of the psychology of betrayal

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