Emotions and Contingencies in Conrad's Fiction

This book sets out to elucidate Conrad's unique insight into the workings of human emotions for a readership of scholars and graduate students engaged in Conrad studies. It argues that the originality of Conrad's conception of human emotions lies in his comprehensive grasp of emotions in the broad framework of a contingent world; he regards emotions as fundamentally a manifestation of human defiance towards reality. The book takes up seven of Conrad's works which are of significance from the perspective of emotions and contingencies, including 'Heart of Darkness' and Nostromo.

Yoko Okuda is Professor Emerita at Faculty of Humanities, Atomi University, Tokyo, Japan. Her work has appeared in journals including The Conradian, Conradiana, L'Epoque Conradienne, Yearbook of Conrad Studies, and Conrad Studies (Japan). She currently serves as President of the Joseph Conrad Society of Japan.