Lord Jim

Lord Jim Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

Conceived at the turn of the century, Lord Jim is regarded as being one of Joseph Conrad's greatest works. Jim, the opening chapter reveals, is a water-clerk, and a popular person in the Eastern ports where he earns his wage. As a water-clerk, racing against those of rival ship-chandlers, it's Jim's job to sail out to meet any ship about to anchor, introduce himself and the ship-chandler for whom he works and from that moment on to serve the ship's captain in whatever capacity he may be needed.

Jim, one of five sons, spent his childhood in a parsonage until, when his predilection for the sea became evident, was sent to a training ship for officers of the mercantile marine. There, he learnt the various skills that would be required of him at sea and dreamt of the endless adventure he had read about. On one particular winter's day aboard the training ship, amidst a terrible storm, a coaster crashes into an anchored schooner and a cutter of boys is launched from the training vessel to aid the crew of the stricken vessels. Jim, however, is not among them.

Later that evening, he broods apart as the bowman of the cutter regales the others with the story of that day's rescue. Jim feels that he was better served remaining behind, having, to his mind, enlarged his knowledge more than those involved in the actual rescue and certain that from now on, he alone would know how to deal with the fractious wind and sea.