This Monarch Notes analysis covers three classic novels by Joseph Conrad: Lord Jim, The Secret Sharer, and Heart of Darkness. Of these novels, Lord Jim is the hardest to follow due to its length and shifts in narrative and perspective, while Heart of Darkness is the most obscure.

I found the Monarch Notes account of Lord Jim to be of modest help. In summarizing the chapters, it helps keep the reader aware of whose perspective is being offered as shifts are made from the omnisicent view to first and second hand narrations by the various characters of events not witnessed by the primary narrator, the loquacious Cptn Marlowe. I found it to be of less value for this novel and for Heart of Darkness in explaining deeper meanings and narrative techniques; indeed the accounts of symbolism and literary devices left me unimpressed. What's more, this work is not free of errors. Sievert confuses two of the characters in Lord Jim, in reporting that both the first engineer of the Patna and the second engineer have gone off their heads (pp. 17- 18) (he has one seeing pink toads and the other, reptiles) -- the delusions are actually held by the same person!). On the other hand, I enjoyed the brief analysis of The Secret Sharer as it helped me appreciate the compelling nature of the story. I actually might not have gotten through Lord Jim without the Monarch Notes, but that's not to say I enjoyed it. Others may see it differently, or better still, be able to enjoy the novel without a literary crutch. ( )