Jim, a young British sailor, is a romantic idealist who dreams of a life of glory and adventure. After a disastrous incident at sea, he is disgraced and forced to resign his commission in the British Navy. He travels to the Far East, where he takes a job as a ship's captain in a small trading company. Jim's idealism is tested when he is faced with a moral dilemma: he must decide whether to abandon a ship full of passengers in danger of sinking, or risk his own life to save them. He chooses the latter, and is branded a coward and a traitor by his peers. Jim is exiled to a remote island, where he is forced to confront his own inner demons and come to terms with his past. He eventually finds redemption and a new purpose in life, and is welcomed back into the British Navy. He is given a new command and is sent on a mission to the Far East, where he must confront the same moral dilemma he faced before. In the end, Jim is able to prove his courage and loyalty, and is finally accepted as a hero.
By Joseph Conrad · First published 1899 · Genre: Adventure Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Romance Fiction · 46 chapters