Today's readers may not be very familiar with the English "merchant service" or with the cargo vessels of the 1880s. A good approach for discussion would be to research both the ships of the era, and the geography of the story. Although the Judea's early misfortunes are told quickly, they assume a knowledge of the English coast from Newcastle-on-Tyne to Falmouth. Similarly, the concluding sequence of the story may become more vivid if the position of the Judea in relation to the Dutch East Indies were studied. It is also of ironic significance that the ship never reaches Bangkok, a destination that takes on a romantic aura for the young Marlow.

Some added interest in the story might develop from a study of Conrad's biography, especially the voyage which served as a model for the voyage of the Judea.

Readers may also benefit from noting the...