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Lord Jim is one of Joseph Conrad’s greatest novels. Set against a background of late 19th-century steamships, sailing ships, and Far Eastern island civil wars, it tells the story of a young English sailor named Jim who at first could not imagine being anything less than always brave and heroic. But one impulsive, fearful act at sea leaves him stripped of his rank, reputation and self-respect. Guilty and ashamed that he had abandoned a leaking ship carrying hundreds of Moslem pilgrims, Jim devotes the rest of his short, spectacular life to restoring his faith in himself by regaining the trust of others. Overcoming astonishing odds, he captures the respect and love of a small community of people, far off in the islands of Malaysia.
In the end, Jim bravely faces a deadly choice between cowardice and responsibility. This thrilling novel is about all young people’s need for self-forgiveness and self-acceptance when they fall short of their own ideals.
Guided Reading Level: N
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