A straightforward enough collection of six stories by Joseph Conrad. The most easily recognized among the bunch is probably "The Duel," due to its adaptation to film in 1977. The best among them, to my taste, however, is "Gaspar Ruiz." This latter story, which appears first in order in the book, carries an almost tragic quality. Told from the perspective of an enemy soldier facing Ruiz, it nevertheless paints a sympathetic portrait of a giant of a man, in terms both of physical strength and determination. Yet oddly bound by his own sense of honor. Oddly, because he is a rebel involved in gruesome fighting, first for independence, then on the side of royalists, and later as a brigand. In the end, his capacity to delude himself leads to his ruin. This is a common theme in much of Conrad's work. But here it's a little more clearly foregrounded than is usual the case. ( )