Political turmoil convulses 19th-century Russia, as Razumov, a young student preparing for a career in the czarist bureaucracy, unwittingly becomes...
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Oct 09, 2011
Tocotin
rated it: 
Conrad's books usually start very slowly and then they gain so much acceleration it's amazing. I enjoyed the first part immensely (the one where Razumov encounters and deals with the, um, problem presented by Haldin). The Switzerland part was okay, I thought it predictable at first, but then the climax was really very good. Tekla was my favorite character and as usual, I was happy to see the care and compassion Conrad showed in his treatment of "smaller people". Why only three stars th
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Jul 18, 2011
Hanz
rated it: 
In an early episode, it is related how Haldin is tortured for information but doesn't speak. Razumov is presented with a record of that interrogation under torture, the questions are written out as are the silences, for 'pages and pages' of the text given to Razumov consist of the questions followed by the line 'Refuses to answer'.
Under Western Eyes, marks for me, a dramatic rendering of the creation of the modernist text itself; a text of a series of questions followed by rec More...
Under Western Eyes, marks for me, a dramatic rendering of the creation of the modernist text itself; a text of a series of questions followed by rec More...
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Jun 15, 2011
Libyrinths
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Writing before the Russian revolution, Conrad tries to elucidate Russia for the western reader. As such, you get some revolutionaries and bureaucrats, and a protagonist caught in between.
The strength of the book is what Conrad's strength often is, his ability to see into the hearts and minds of characters. In this case he is aiming to see into the psychology of Russia as a country, and hits a few bull's eyes. I think the characters suffer a bit from it, but in some ways it makes his More...
The strength of the book is what Conrad's strength often is, his ability to see into the hearts and minds of characters. In this case he is aiming to see into the psychology of Russia as a country, and hits a few bull's eyes. I think the characters suffer a bit from it, but in some ways it makes his More...
Aug 13, 2009
David
rated it:
From Joseph Conrad, Under Western Eyes:
-- To a teacher of languages there comes a time when the world is but a place of many words and man appears a mere talking animal not much more wonderful than a parrot.
That's on the first page! I knew at that moment that I had chosen the right book. Also:
-- In Russia, the land of spectral ideas and disembodied aspirations, many brave minds have turned away at last from the vain and endless conflict to the one great hist More...
-- To a teacher of languages there comes a time when the world is but a place of many words and man appears a mere talking animal not much more wonderful than a parrot.
That's on the first page! I knew at that moment that I had chosen the right book. Also:
-- In Russia, the land of spectral ideas and disembodied aspirations, many brave minds have turned away at last from the vain and endless conflict to the one great hist More...
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Apr 08, 2009
Eric
rated it: 
Struggled with 4.5 to 5 on this one. How timely is a 100-yr old novel that tries to come to grips with terrorism, the Russian soul and the ability of words to capture any of this? Very. Conrad gets dinged, perhaps, for the narrative structure, perhaps hiding (?) his observations behind an uneasy language teacher with "western eyes." Then again, perhaps this device freed him. In any case, hard not to embrace many of the (tres modern) observations spoken thru various perspectives.
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Feb 02, 2009
James
rated it:
In 1910 Joseph Conrad published a novel about a young man named Razumov. This novel is Under Western Eyes and like so much of Conrad it is well written and full of psychological insight. For the 'hero' of the story takes up with a terrorist, Victor Haldin, and betrays him to the secret police. This act haunts him throughout the rest of the novel and the ramifications of his actions determine to a great extent his fate. Set in St. Petersburg before the fall of the Czar and in Geneva Switzerland w
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Jan 23, 2011
April the Cheshire Meow
rated it:
The fact that the Westerner narrator being an uncomprehending observer (eye in the title) and the Russian of the story, Razumov, has the reputation as a great listener (strikingly so, pun intended) is there for some reason. Both facts are strongly placed in the body of the text so it must mean something. Razumov is an unformed human being, which in the first chapter is spelled out both in the description of his face as well as his reactions in discussions -he is easily swayed. He is a third yea
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Oct 02, 2011
Perry
rated it:
Portentous alternative take on Crime and Punishment from Polish emigre Conrad.
The anti-hero of this tale, student Razumov, unlike Raskolnikov from Dostoevsky's famous novel, has the situation that leads him down the road to crime and the retribution of guilt forced upon him when a revolutionary terrorist turns to him for shelter and support after assassinating a government autocrat with an incendiary.
Razumov does not sympathise with the act and fears for his future career, yet h More...
The anti-hero of this tale, student Razumov, unlike Raskolnikov from Dostoevsky's famous novel, has the situation that leads him down the road to crime and the retribution of guilt forced upon him when a revolutionary terrorist turns to him for shelter and support after assassinating a government autocrat with an incendiary.
Razumov does not sympathise with the act and fears for his future career, yet h More...
Aug 04, 2011
Helen
rated it:
Intrigueing book. Told by a narrator who is involved in the periphery of the action. he's an English language teacher, and is the western eyes of the title. he sees it as his duty to pass on what happened and present the Russians at the core of the story in a manner understandable to the western mind. the chief protagonists are Razumov and Natalia Haldin, she the sister of a revolutionary who throws himself on Razumov after committing a bombing raid that kills a minister, but also innocent bysta
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Sep 16, 2010
DoctorM
rated it:
Written in the years between the failed revolution of 1905 and the collapse of tsarism in 1917, "Under Western Eyes" is one of the finest political novels of the 20th-century. A meditation on the costs and uses of terror and on the nature of repression, and a novel that bears re-reading all through the new century.
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Jan 05, 2012
Rosie
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I really enjoyed this, but it was so tense I'm quite relieved that it's over! I'd only read Heart of Darkness before (like a lot of people, I'm sure), and reading this has made me want to go and read more Conrad, which HoD did not (though interesting in itself). There are passages so beautiful I had to go back and read them again and again, and it's been a while since I've read an author whose command of plot is so well balanced with stylistic skill.
For a novel whose only real event More...
For a novel whose only real event More...
Aug 20, 2009
Palmyrah
rated it: 
Thought this was going to be good. Turned out to be the worst book by Conrad I've ever read. Even Almeyer's Folly had the excuse of being his first novel. Even the glacially paced The Rover was more satisfying in the end.
The first few chapters are fine but cover territory Dostoevsky made forever his own in Crime & Punishment (with which the present novel bears far too many similarities for mere coincidence). After the story moves from St. Petersburg to Geneva, the whole thing gets ou More...
The first few chapters are fine but cover territory Dostoevsky made forever his own in Crime & Punishment (with which the present novel bears far too many similarities for mere coincidence). After the story moves from St. Petersburg to Geneva, the whole thing gets ou More...
Jun 28, 2011
Beth
rated it:
The story takes place around the turn of the century (19th to 20th) partly in Geneva, partly in St. Petersburg. It deals with a similar topic as James’ Princess Casamassima, namely, the violent overthrow of oppression and the consequences for those who are caught in the struggle. It’s filled with betrayals, wrong turns, unrequited love, missed opportunities, and bitterness. Somewhat mannered, it is far more exciting and vibrant that James’ study of similar issues. Conrad found this book the
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Jul 23, 2011
Paul
rated it:
Although not without its merits, I didn't find this one up to Conrad's usually exceptional standard. His "The Secret Agent", a novel treating a similar subject, is far superior.
Conrad adopts an uncharacteristically heavy-handed moralizing tone in "Under Western Eyes". While it may be morally gratifying to characterize a gaggle of revolutionaries as doctrinaire, self-deluding, cynical and ultimately bloodthirsty fools, it does not make for fine literature. The c More...
Conrad adopts an uncharacteristically heavy-handed moralizing tone in "Under Western Eyes". While it may be morally gratifying to characterize a gaggle of revolutionaries as doctrinaire, self-deluding, cynical and ultimately bloodthirsty fools, it does not make for fine literature. The c More...
Jul 30, 2009
Eldan
rated it:
The thing you have to be prepared for when reading Conrad's political novels, is that he was writing 100 years ago and a disturbing amount of what he portrays fits the present day, and probably always will. I suppose I should see this as the mark of a talented author--he's really just describing people, and we really don't change--but I can't read one of these without becoming somewhat disillusioned by just how little has changed in 100 years of "progress".
Anyway, to the s More...
Anyway, to the s More...
Jul 15, 2009
Cindy
rated it:
Razumov is a loner, studying at the university and working hard. He is interrupted one day by another student, Victor Haldin, who confesses to the assassination of a government official just that day. Razumov realizes he must help Haldin, but he doesn't care about politics, only about the consequences if his involvement gets out.
Despite setting out to help Haldin, when things get complicated Razumov informs on him. Haldin is arrested and executed. (This may sound like a spoiler, but More...
Despite setting out to help Haldin, when things get complicated Razumov informs on him. Haldin is arrested and executed. (This may sound like a spoiler, but More...
May 05, 2007
علی
rated it:
از چشم غربی نیز با وجودی که یک قرن از انتشارش می گذرد، هنوز هم کم و بیش وصف روزگار ماست. رو در رویی رازونوف و هالدین حکایت از نبوع کنراد دارد. رازونوف معتقد به "سازمان" است، حتی در روسیه ی استبدادی پیش از انقلاب. او به انقلاب و بی نظمی ناشی از آن اعتقادی ندارد. برای همین هالدین انقلابی را که به او پناه آورده، لو می دهد و از سوی رژیم به ژنو فرستاده می شود تا حلقه های انقلابی روس ها در اروپا را زیر نظر داشته باشد. آنجا با کاترینا، خواهر هالدین آشنا می شود و کم کم به او دل می بندد. اما عذ
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Jul 27, 2011
Conrad is one of the greatest writers of all time. Under Western Eyes is superb, as I expected, without quite reaching the hights of his best work such as The Secret Agent or Lord Jim. But still, Conrad at not quite his best is better than just about any other novelist. It's his 'Russian' novel and is very influenced by Dostoyevsky. I'm gearing up for Nostromo next.
Jun 15, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
Every time I read Conrad I'm struck by how much he reminds me of Dostoevsky. Even more so in this book since it's about a Russian revolutionary who murders a government official. The story is not so much about the revolutionary but the person he turns to to help him escape and the aftermath.
Mar 23, 2009
Gabe
rated it:
This is the story of how a series of Russian intellectuals and professional "revolutionists" react to a sudden act of terrorism. In this book, promoted by its title and its narrator as an exploration of the Russian psyche for western eyes, Conrad charts the extreme emotions that drive each of his characters as they deal with the aftermath of the incident. Whether consumed by indignation, lust, loneliness, or remorse each character is to excited to see things for what they really are.
Jan 04, 2011
Sketchbook
rated it:
Conrad's gripping espionager influenced GraGreene &
LeCarre. An apolitical student accidentally becomes
a spy after he betrays a rebel friend; later as a
secret agent in Geneva he falls in love with the
fellow's sister. Psychological trauma amid deception,
manipulation, and turmoil of the Russian soul.
LeCarre. An apolitical student accidentally becomes
a spy after he betrays a rebel friend; later as a
secret agent in Geneva he falls in love with the
fellow's sister. Psychological trauma amid deception,
manipulation, and turmoil of the Russian soul.
Jan 05, 2010
Dawn
rated it:
If you've been forced to read Heart of Darkness along your way, don't let it scare you off from this Conrad book. Surprisingly readable and engaging.
Dec 30, 2008
Erik
rated it:
A beautiful examination of the 'Russian soul' question and why perhaps Russia can never be a democracy. There is a passage in here contrasting democratic Switzerland with Russia, which I think may be the basis for Orson Welles' famed "cuckoo clock" speech.
Jul 22, 2010
Eddie
rated it:
Conrad again proves his inability to refrain from telling a story in the first person. However, he does it quite well. This story has pacing issues, lagging in quite a few places, but when it picks up, you really cannot help sitting on a park bench after getting off the bus and arriving ten minutes late for work because you just have to push on to the end of that section to see what happens. The end is well worth the effort, but I am still at a complete loss as to the meaning of the very last fe
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Feb 21, 2008
Rachel
rated it:
Whew ~ Conrad!!! What a way with words; I just read this book (rather, listened to it on audiobook) twice in succession. A novel dealing with Russians from under the "western eyes" of an old English teacher of languages. One of Conrad's most interesting characters is the young Russian student Rasumov, who is thrust into a political and moral dilemma (after all, this is CONRAD!) right from the start of the novel; and the consequences of his act, esp the inner turmoil resulting from i
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Oct 15, 2007
Danielle
rated it:
Loved the idea, got a little restless as the story progressed. I wish I had read this in high school for, although the themes of the hypocrisy of idealism are ever-relevant, I felt as though they were repeated far too many times to maintain my interest. I enjoyed the writing and the thoughtfulness of Conrad who is a genius. There is Russian anarchy, international intrigue on a very sneaky level, feminist issues, tragedy, and, of course, war in 19th century Russia. Gotta love it. But again, the o
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Jun 07, 2010
Jason
rated it:
Conrad's response to Dostoevsky is probably one of his least sophosticated stories that I've read. It comes across as more of a polemic at times. It's worth trying out, but certainly not a good starting point for future Conrad fans.
Feb 12, 2012
Aaron
rated it:
not his best - but a decent stab at the russian novella. The mannerism of that style was toned down a bit- then again - i didn't really care all too much about the protagonists. The action was extremely well done though.
May 10, 2010
Paul
rated it:
Conrad's version of Crime and Punishment. For me, it confirms he can't maintain tension for more than a few pages without someone acting incomprehensibly.
Apr 05, 2009
David
rated it:
May be his best book, a close run thing with Nostromo and Heart of Darkness. Could be read with darkness at Noon for a proper understanding of Russia.
