This novel, Tales Of Hearsay is written by Joseph Conrad. Conrad
reflects on his native Poland and Russia in ""The Warrior's Soul"" and
""Prince Roman,"" the first two stories in this collection. But he does
so in a very different way. His grandfather's life is being examined,
not his own early years. He takes readers on a trip back in time, almost
nostalgically, first to the 1830-1831 Cadet Revolution against Russia
and then to Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. Although the stories don't
have the psychological depth of his best work, they are nevertheless
perceptive in that regard. Another element is in play while we read them
as well. In effect, we have a perspective comparable to that of standing
between two mirrors and seeing many reflections of existence as we look
back on Conrad's writings, which also have a nostalgic quality. It turns
out that the third story, ""The Tale,"" is not that. It is a confession
that reveals the inner guilt that a naval captain felt after carrying
out a vengeful act during hostilities. The final tale, ""The Black
Mate,"" is about overcoming the otherworldly via cunning. Just a few
paragraphs later, its almost whimsically ironic conclusion is reversed
into a warning against self-possession.
