Conrad, Joseph

explaining that "I have been plunged in a torpor so profound that even your attack on my pet Heart of Darkness could do no more than make me roll my eyes ferociously", but now responding in detail to her criticisms, admitting that "your strictures are intelligible to me; and every criticism that it intelligible (a quality by no means common) must have some truth", but explaining his intentions in writing Heart of Darkness and his characterisation of Kurtz, concluding with typically decorous compliments and promising to bring cuttings of reviews to their next meeting ("...Most of them are unintelligible to me and consequently contain no truth..."), 6 pages, 8vo, headed stationery of Pent Farm, Stanford, Kent, 3 December 1902, integral blank on second bifolium torn off, not affecting text

Maurice F. Neville; his sale, Sotheby's, New York, 13 April 2004, lot 30, $80,000

Collected Letters, II, pp.460-61

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"...What I distinctly admit is the fault of having made Kurtz too symbolic or rather symbolic at all. But the story being mainly a vehicle for conveying a batch of personal impressions I gave the rein to my mental laziness and took the line of least resistance. This is then the whole Apologia pro Vita Kurtzii - or rather for the tardiness of his vitality..."

A rare letter by Conrad discussing his most famous and resonant work, Heart of Darkness, providing a fascinating analysis of the character of Kurtz. The letter was written to Elsie Hueffer, née Martindale, the wife of Conrad's collaborator Ford Herman Hueffer (later Ford Madox Ford, see note by lot 35), who was herself a translator of Maupassant and novelist (Conrad had commented by letter on the manuscript of her novel Margaret Hever some six weeks before writing this letter). The content of her letter to Conrad is not known, but Frederick Karl has surmised convincingly that she criticised Heart of Darkness for a vagueness and lack of focus that was closely connected to weaknesses in The Inheritors (co-written by Conrad and Hueffer): "The effective use of irony... was and would be derivative of particularization. They were not novelists of sufficient philosophical consistency (or world-view) to be able to move among generalities." (Karl, Joseph Conrad: Three Lives, p.484).