Summary

Part Two, Chapter I: The Congo begins in June of 1890. Casement has returned to the Congo. Joseph Conrad arrives. He introduces himself to Casement as Casement is working on some poetry. Conrad is in the Congo working as a mate on a boat until he is assigned a boat of his own to captain. The two talk about Casement’s job and what the local tribes are like, including the cannibals.

Conrad travels with Casement to the local villages for a few days. Conrad tells Casement that he is from Poland and his last name was Korseniewski, which he changed when he became an English citizen. He has been drawn to Africa for some time and, like Casement, enjoys exploring untamed lands.

The two talk about Conrad’s family and what drew him to the Congo. Conrad believes that “England is the...