New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-28

UNDER w - ] t-tsN = I l--' a =" - :,
Joseph Conrad. Emo. pr s''- Harper
4 Bros.
N5r Conrad il, above all things, an
artist. lie is read not only for his SUD
stance but for his form, for his method
Indeed. half the pleasure Of reading nm
is ordinarily derived from contempia-
tiop of his technical adroitness, an
adroitness curiously spiritualized and
very original. His method counts for
much in this new novel. We never tire
Of observing the art with which ne does
precisely what he wants 10 DO But
never before has he so knowingly demon
strated the value of the things ne mas
- out TO do: never before has he struck
so perfeCt a balance between substance
and form. Under Western Eyes IS ms
best piece Of craftsmanship and has most
poiguant story We say this win d IuI
aDpreoiation OF the sombre enchantIneht
in writings Of his like Youth ana me
r4earr Of Darkness" We remember as
gratefully. too. the thrilling power ID
.Tvpboon" and The Niger Of the Mar
eissus" and the melancholy appeal OF
Lord Jim" But compared with the
present work. even those mastery per-
formances are recalled with a sense OF
their having owed a certain amount OF
their charm 20 exotic or otherwise eX-
eeptonal traits. Under Western Eyes
slrpasses them all, inasmuch as IL pos
sesses more of that quality Of the uni
versal which is the mark OF great iic-
tion.
Paradoxicauy it takes on this virtue
despite an error in the author scheme.
dogSediy persisted In through what can
only DE regarded as sublime uncon-
sciousuess of it's manifest absurdlty.
The story has to do with Russian char
acter. but the supposititious narrator is
au Englishn;un and Alr. Conrad, start
Ing from the just assumption that the
East b. mysterious 10 the West returns
constantly io The idea that We must
take his Russian types as only very mod
estly and tentatively interpreted. As
matter OF fact. whether from his Polish
origin or not he writes with all the per
suasiveness of a man whose knowledge
is. as the saving goes. "of the centre.
The EnClshmau in the book does not in
terest us in the least. for he has really
nothing 70 do with the matter. Why
should we notice his comments. when by
some instructive process we recognize
the very heart of Russia in the story
We recognize this. moreover, not because
Of the nature Of the plot. but because
the central fgure therein is. intensely
and Overwhelmingly. a credible. human
creature.
The plot is so trlhing an affair. con-
trasted with the essential stuff Of Mr..
Conrad's book, that We do the author no
Injustice in revealing its main outlines
Razuuaov. the miserable hero of the tale.
is a solitary young student in 81. Peters
burg. self-centred, ambitious. and con-
tent 70 win his way without rebellion
against the existing order Of things. His
1aciturn habit has allowed his comrades
10 r1isinterpret his character. When one
of these fellow students assass-nates @
high official he seeks shelter with Raul
NOV for a few hours. The latter be-
-ravs him 20 his death. but the circum-
stances are such that the truth remains
hidden from the Rev0lutlon-sts inter
esteI in the assassination aforesaid.
Thenceforth RazUmov is the victim Of
lestinv ironiCal % the point Of gro
resuueness He who would have let the
legions thunder bv. TO plunge again IN
thought Is pertorce thrown into the
company Of the Nihilsts he hates. and Is