Typhoon and Other Stories

Join an unflappable old sea captain and his crew of two hundred Chinese laborers as they navigate the stormy seas of a terrifying typhoon for the very first time. Meanwhile, an émigré Austrian peasant named Yanko washes ashore on an English beach, only to face the cold shoulder of a local community that finds his foreign ways unsettling. Through persistence, he gradually earns a sliver of respect. Captain Falk, who seems to be part man and part tugboat, finds himself hopelessly in love with a beautiful young woman, but a tricky dilemma stands in the way of their happiness. And then theres a devoted woman who, out of kindness, avoids shattering the dreams of her blind landlord, Captain Hagberd, who clings to the belief that his long-lost sailor son will return and wish to marry her. While Conrads short stories often carry a lighter touch than his novels, these captivating tales—especially Yankos journey in Amy Foster—carry a sardonic wit that keeps readers engaged. (Summary by Peter Dan