Tales of Hearsay

This novel, Tales Of Hearsay is written by Joseph Conrad. Conrad reflects on his native Poland and Russia in "The Warrior's Soul" and "Prince Roman," the first two stories in this collection. But he does so in a very different way. His grandfather's life is being examined, not his own early years. He takes readers on a trip back in time, almost nostalgically, first to the 1830-1831 Cadet Revolution against Russia and then to Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. Although the stories don't have the psychological depth of his best work, they are nevertheless perceptive in that regard. Another element is in play while we read them as well. In effect, we have a perspective comparable to that of standing between two mirrors and seeing many reflections of existence as we look back on Conrad's writings, which also have a nostalgic quality. It turns out that the third story, "The Tale," is not that. It is a confession that reveals the inner guilt that a naval captain felt after carrying out a vengeful act during hostilities. The final tale, "The Black Mate," is about overcoming the otherworldly via cunning. Just a few paragraphs later, its almost whimsically ironic conclusion is reversed into a warning against self-possession.