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      An Outpost of Progress

      by Joseph Conrad
      Published
      Jun 2013
      Main Genre
      General Fiction General Fiction
      Pages
      30
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      About This Book

      "An Outpost of Progress" is a short story written in July 1897 by Joseph Conrad, drawing on his own experience at Congo.



      The story deals with two European men, named Kayerts and Carlier, who are assigned to a trading post in a remote part of the African Jungle. There they take part in ivory trading, hoping to financially benefit the company as well as themselves. With no specific tasks or important things to be done, they both become increasingly isolated and demoralized as the time goes by. At one point in the story, the native Makola, serving as Kayerts's and Carlier's bookkeeper, initiates an exchange of slaves for ivory. Initially Kayerts and Carlier are stunned and scandalized by the idea, yet eventually they accept the deal and aid Makola for his huge profit. Both men are continuously plagued by diseases and grow very weak physically towards the end of the story. Finally, a seemingly trivial matter – sugar – sparks an irrational, uncontrolled and violent conflict between them, and ends tragically as Kayerts accidentally shoots and kills Carlier. At the end of the story, just when the company steamboat approaches the station two months later than it should have, Kayerts hangs himself out of desperation.

      Genres & Themes

      Genres

      General Fiction

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      First Edition Jul 2013 Createspace ISBN13 9781490564845 ISBN10 1490564845
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      Dec 2012 Createspace ISBN13 9781481115247 ISBN10 1481115243
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      May 2015 Createspace ISBN13 9781512280876 ISBN10 1512280879
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      May 2015 Createspace ISBN13 9781511998031 ISBN10 1511998032
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      May 2015 Createspace ISBN13 9781511998031 ISBN10 1511998032
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      Aug 2015 Createspace ISBN13 9781515384519 ISBN10 1515384519
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      Sep 2015 Createspace ISBN13 9781517441029 ISBN10 1517441021
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      Dec 2015 Createspace ISBN13 9781519630216 ISBN10 1519630212
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      Sep 2016 Createspace ISBN13 9781537454405 ISBN10 1537454404
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      Oct 2016 Createspace ISBN13 9781539555377 ISBN10 1539555372
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      ISBN10 B07B3QKSCX
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      Dec 2011 Charles River Editors ISBN13 2940013465855
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      Jan 2014 ISBN10 B00I11WFSA
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      Jan 2014 Kypros Press ISBN13 9781518364310 ISBN10 1518364314
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      Jan 2014 Krill Press ISBN13 9781518321542 ISBN10 1518321542
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      Jun 2014 Heraklion Press ISBN13 9781632956415 ISBN10 1632956411
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      May 2015 Magic Fairy Tales ISBN13 2940151557566
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      Apr 2017 Oregan Publishing ISBN13 9781535455473 ISBN10 1535455470
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      Apr 2017 Oregan Publishing ISBN10 B071Y41D8M
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      Mar 2018 CDED ISBN10 B07BHNKSNT
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      May 2018 AB Books ISBN10 B07D32CT3W
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      Oct 2018 ISBN10 B07JLRPKN2
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      Jun 2015 Smart Touch Media ISBN10 B00YUK2DWY
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      Dec 2015 Spoken Realms ISBN10 B019WYB23S
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