Ivory, Apes and Peacocks

A rich tapestry of early‑twentieth‑century criticism, this volume opens with a reverent meditation on Joseph Conrad, portraying him as a solitary navigator of both sea and soul. The author sketches Conrad’s blend of adventurous prose and psychological insight, inviting listeners to hear the “sea‑shell” of his narrative echoing across distant horizons.

From there the essays wander through an eclectic parade of cultural icons—Whitman’s boundless verses, the ironic flair of Jules Laforgue, the Russian giants Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, and the daring experiments of Schoenberg and Wedekind. Interlaced with vivid portraits of painters from Vermeer to Van Gogh and discussions of futurist fervor, the book offers a panoramic look at how literature, music, and visual art intersected in a restless age. The tone remains thoughtful rather than didactic, letting each figure’s unique “nuance” shine while suggesting the larger pulse of modern creativity.