?Government in general, any government anywhere, is a thing of exquisite comicality to a discerning mind.? Joseph Conrad?s Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard (1904) is set in Costaguana, a fictional South American republic with a troubled past. Both repression and revolution are written into the lives of the residents of Costaguana. When wealthy businessman Charles Gould offers his support to a ruthless Latin American dictator in the hope of advancing his own business interests, his actions trigger more chaos in Costaguana. Gould turns to the incorruptible Nostromo for help. Though Nostromo heroically saves his city from the deadly advances of revolution, a dark secret threatens to destroy his life and reputation forever. Seeped in drama and spectacle, vivid in description, and incisive in terms of social and political commentary, Nostromo is one of Conrad?s most ambitious novels. The winner of both popular and critical acclaim, this novel remains a topical read because of Conrad?s foresight, political acumen, and his gift for crafting a moving, human story set against the churnings of history.