Typhoon

by Joseph Conrad

"Typhoon" by Joseph Conrad is a novella written in 1899 and serialized in 1902. Captain MacWhirr commands the steamer Nan-Shan straight into a devastating Pacific typhoon, refusing to change course despite the mounting danger. Though emotionally distant from his crew and family, and lacking imagination, his unyielding determination against overwhelming natural forces commands unexpected respect. Conrad innovatively portrays the shift from sail to steam while employing a startling narrative technique—leaping forward in time at the story's climax, challenging readers to imagine how the ship survived the storm's fury.