Nostromo

In the fictional South American republic of Costaguana, the San Tomé silver mine becomes the centre of political and economic power. Charles Gould believes that restoring the mine will bring order to the province of Sulaco, but its wealth attracts financiers, foreign interests, dictators and revolutionaries. When a new uprising threatens the port, the celebrated dockworker Nostromo is entrusted with carrying a cargo of silver away from the advancing forces.

The attempt to save the treasure transforms both Nostromo and the political future of Sulaco. Publicly admired for courage and loyalty, he becomes privately consumed by the silver and by resentment at how powerful men use his reputation. Conrad uses the changing control of the mine, railway, port and state to examine how foreign capital and local ambition can turn reform, patriotism and revolution into different expressions of material interest.