We penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness. It was very quiet there. At night sometimes the roll of drums behind the curtain of trees would run up the river and remain sustained faintly, as if hovering in the air, high over our heads, till the first break of day. Whether this meantContinue reading “RKS Literature: Penetrating the Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)”
Category Archives: literature
RKS Literature: Fine Fellows These Cannibals (Joseph Conrad)
I don’t pretend to say that steamboat floated all the time. More than once she had to wade for a bit, with twenty cannibals splashing around and pushing. Fine fellows-these cannibals-in their place. They were men one could work with, and I am grateful to them. And, after all, they did not eat each otherContinue reading “RKS Literature: Fine Fellows These Cannibals (Joseph Conrad)”
RKS Literature: The Fascination of the Abomination (Joseph Conrad)
Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga-perhaps too much dice, you know-coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes. Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed aroundContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Fascination of the Abomination (Joseph Conrad)”
RKS Literature: Conquerors and Buccaneer Colonialism (Joseph Conrad)
This devoted band called itself the Eldorado Exploring Expedition, and I believe they were sworn to secrecy. Their talk, however, was the talk of sordid buccaneers: it was reckless without hardihood, greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage; there was not an atom of serious intention in the whole batch of them, and they didContinue reading “RKS Literature: Conquerors and Buccaneer Colonialism (Joseph Conrad)”
RKS Literature: Conquerors, Colonists and Aggravated Murder on a Grand Scale (Joseph Conrad)
What saves us is efficiency-the devotion to efficiency. But these chaps were not much account, really. They were no colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze, and nothing more, I suspect. They were conquerors, and for that you want brute force-nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accidentContinue reading “RKS Literature: Conquerors, Colonists and Aggravated Murder on a Grand Scale (Joseph Conrad)”
RKS IRISH American Literature: The Irish View of Children (J.P. Donleavy)
The Irish feel that children are brought down on them by the wrath of God for screwing. All you hear is that if it weren’t for you kids life would be rosy and we could have a good time. But we worked and slaved ourselves to the bone to give you a little more thanContinue reading “RKS IRISH American Literature: The Irish View of Children (J.P. Donleavy)”
RKS IRISH American Literature: Food Money, Sex and Health in Ireland (J.P. Donleavy)
That’s what I like about Ireland, so open about hatreds. I guess all I want out of this life is a decent fire in the grate, a rug on the floor and a comfortable chair to sit and read. And just a few quid I don’t have to slave for and mix with people withContinue reading “RKS IRISH American Literature: Food Money, Sex and Health in Ireland (J.P. Donleavy)”
RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds): “Observations”
Observations I sit watching a parody of fools Spitting out hope The janitors of our conscience Excreting promises siphoned off by the masses I’ll chuckle as the lasso Of endless circles Traps its unsuspecting Ambitions Robert K. Stephen
RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds): “The hunter”
The hunter Gentleman they say Kill at the office Or in the fields all day It really matters they say The show them you are the boss of your way Like the sheep they hunt there must be leaders or the flock will stray It is really this way For them animal and man areContinue reading “RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds): “The hunter””
RKS British Literature: Jojo the Scottish Lady (John Fowles)
I saw a round cheeked face, no make-up. A fringe of brown hair pigtailed at the back, thick eyebrows, very dirty fingernails holding a fag-end. When the lights went on and we waited for the next feature she tried, with a really pitiable amateurishness to pick me up. She was dressed in jeans, a grubbyContinue reading “RKS British Literature: Jojo the Scottish Lady (John Fowles)”
