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"A Smile of Fortune", originally published in 1912 in Conrad s volume of tales "Twixt Land and Sea", tells the story of a young sea captain at the beginning of a promising career. His first mission is a voyage to the Indian Ocean where he is supposed to do lucrative trade with local merchants. He arrives at an island described as the "Pearl of the Ocean" where he makes the acquaintance of two very different brothers: one a respected tradesman, the other an ill-reputed and ruthless figure. The captain is torn between the two men but finally becomes involved with the dubious brother. When he realizes the scope of his engagement, it is too late to stop it.

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Joseph Conrad, geb. 1857 in der Ukraine, war Sohn polnischer Landadliger. Ab dem siebzehnten Lebensjahr fuhr er für französische und englische Handelsgesellschaften zur See, Erwerb des Kapitänspatents zwölf Jahre später, 1884 Annahme der englischen Staatsbürgerschaft. Zahlreiche Roman-Veröffentlichungen. Der Autor verstarb 1924 in England.

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