''Chance'' is a novel by

Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, ; 3 December 1857 – 3 August 1924) was a Poles in the United Kingdom#19th century, Polish-British novelist and short story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in t ...

, published in 1913, following serial publication the previous year. Although the novel was not one upon which Conrad's later critical reputation was to depend, it was his greatest commercial success upon initial publication. ''Chance'' is narrated by Conrad's regular narrator,

Charles Marlow Charles Marlow is a fictional English seaman and recurring character in the work of novelist Joseph Conrad. Role of Marlow in novels by Conrad Marlow narrates several of Conrad's best-known works such as the novels ''Lord Jim'' (1900) and ''Ch ...

, along with other narrators, who take up the complex narrative at different points. The novel is also unusual among its author's works for such strong emphasis on a female character: the heroine, Flora de Barral. The narrators attempt to interpret various episodes in the life of Miss de Barral, the daughter of a convicted

swindler A charlatan (also called a swindler or mountebank) is a person practicing quackery or a similar confidence trick in order to obtain money, power, fame, or other advantages through pretense or deception. Synonyms for ''charlatan'' include ''sh ...

named Smith de Barral. Miss de Barral leads a sheltered life for as long as her father is prosperous, but at other times must rely on the generosity of others, who resent her or have agendas for her, before she escapes by marrying one Captain Anthony. Much of the book involves the musing of the various narrators over what she and the Captain expected from this union, and what they actually got from it. When her father is released from prison, he joins them on the ship, and the book heads towards its denouement. Breaking away from tradition, ''Chance'' deals with social issues surrounding feminism and financial speculation, involving Mrs. Fyne and Flora de Barral, as presented by the various narrators. The storyline oscillates between human will and purposeful activity and an opposing "apathetic" force which nullifies the importance of human action.

Reception

''Chance'' opened a path to commercial success for Conrad after years of slow progress and obscurity. This success could be measured by the record sales of the book in 1914, which outsold all his previous publications and shot him to fame. The complex style of Conrad's narrative in this novel invited widespread criticisms from peers and readers alike.

References

External links

* 1913 British novels Novels by Joseph Conrad Novels first published in serial form Methuen Publishing books {{1910s-novel-stub