An Outcast of the Islands

Joseph Conrad's second book, An Outcast of the Islands, which was released in 1896, was influenced by the mate-ship experience Conrad had on the steamship Vidar. The plot of the book centers on Peter Willems, a dishonest and unscrupulous character who, fleeing a scandal in Makassar, seeks refuge in a secret native hamlet but betrays his sponsors out of a passion for the tribal chief's daughter. Along with other characters from previous novels, Tom Lingard, a recurring figure in the plot, also appears in Almayer's Folly (1895) and The Rescue (1920). Many people think it is an unappreciated piece of literature. In a similar manner to his Heart of Darkness, Conrad romanticizes the jungle and its inhabitants. Outcast of the Islands, directed by Carol Reed in 1951, was based on this book. Trevor Howard played Willems, Ralph Richardson played Lingard, Robert Morley played Robert, and Wendy Hiller played Wendy. The Hollow Men by T. S. Eliot contains a statement from the novel that reads, "Life is very long."