In the imaginary South American republic of Costaguana, Charles Gould`s San Tomé silver mine is besieged by rebels, in this 1904 novel by the author of Heart of Darkness and Lord Jim. Gould recruits the allegedly incorruptible hero Nostromo to oppose the marauders, but Nostromo`s own mistakes may have disastrous repercussions. Conrad`s novel portrays in shocking detail the corrupting influence of money, the devious effects of greed, and the lure of silver and its power over men - destroying some and revealing the strengths of others.