# Author's Note explained — Nostromo > Chapter companion for Nostromo by Joseph Conrad. ## What happens Conrad explains the origins of Nostromo, inspired by a vague anecdote heard in his youth and later confirmed by a sailor's autobiography. He describes his artistic vision for Nostromo as a 'Man of the People,' contrasting him with the aristocratic Antonia Avellanos, and reflects on the creation of the fictional Costaguana and its characters. ## Themes in this chapter ### Identity and Reputation Nostromo's dual identity as a 'Man of the People' and later as Captain Fidanza, with a hidden moral ruin, explores the tension between public reputation and private self. ### Materialism and Corruption The silver of the San Tome Mine captures both Nostromo and Charles Gould, symbolizing the corrupting influence of material wealth. ### Class and Social Hierarchy Contrast between Nostromo, the man of the people, and Antonia, the aristocrat, highlights class dynamics in the creation of a new state. ## Character check-ins ### Nostromo Central figure, described as a 'Man of the People,' inspired by a Mediterranean sailor named Dominic; evolves into Captain Fidanza with a hidden moral ruin. ### Giorgio Viola The Garibaldino, idealist of old humanitarian revolutions, standing alongside Nostromo. ### Antonia Avellanos The 'beautiful Antonia,' an aristocrat and co-creator of the new state, modeled on Conrad's first love. ### Emilia Gould Mentioned as 'the first lady of Sulaco,' left to the secret devotion of Dr. Monygham. ### Charles Gould The idealist-creator of material interests, left to his mine from which there is no escape. ### Dr. Monygham Referenced in connection with his secret devotion to Mrs. Gould. ### Don Jose Avellanos Principal authority for Costaguana's history, author of the unpublished 'History of Fifty Years of Misrule.' ### Dominic The padrone of the Tremolino, a Corsican sailor whose voice and manner inspired Nostromo's speeches. ## Key lines > Nostromo is the most anxiously meditated of the longer novels which belong to the period following upon the publication of the Typhoon volume of short stories. Conrad reflects that Nostromo was the novel he thought about most carefully after finishing his Typhoon collection. _Conrad introduces the novel's origin and his creative process._ > the first hint for Nostromo came to me in the shape of a vagrant anecdote completely destitute of valuable details. The initial idea for Nostromo was a vague story he heard, lacking in specifics. _Conrad describes the sparse inspiration for the plot._ > it was only when it dawned upon me that the purloiner of the treasure need not necessarily be a confirmed rogue, that he could be even a man of character, an actor and possibly a victim in the changing scenes of a revolution, it was only then that I had the first vision of a twilight country which was to become the province of Sulaco Conrad realized the thief could be a complex character, not just a villain, which sparked his vision for the fictional setting of Sulaco. _This insight transformed the anecdote into a novel about revolution and character._ > He is a man with the weight of countless generations behind him and no parentage to boast of … Like the people. Nostromo embodies the anonymous, enduring strength of the common people, without a notable lineage. _Conrad defines Nostromo as a representative of the masses._ > Antonia the aristocrat and Nostromo the man of the people are the artisans of the new era, the true creators of the new state; he by his legendary and daring feat, she, like a woman, simply by the force of what she is Antonia and Nostromo together shape the new republic: he through his heroic actions, she through her inherent influence. _Conrad highlights their complementary roles in founding the Occidental Republic._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/author-s-note - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nostromo_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nostromo_se/chapters