The Nigger of the Narcissus was written in 1896 and is loosely based on Conrads own experiences as a sailor; in 1884, Conrad made a voyage on the real Narcissus from Bombay to Dunkirk as a Second Mate, and some of the events described in his novella may be based on adversities Conrad and his fellow-sailers had to contend with. And yet, Conrads third novel is much more than just an accout of adventures at sea partly based on fact and experience.
In The Nigger of the Narcissus, Conrad powerfully expresses his emotional leanings towards a seafaring life but he also unfolds a rather pessimistic worldview, maybe an even more pessimistic one than in many of his later works. It explores the microcosm on board of this ship and examines human nature and power relations as more and more strain is put on the crew.
