Costaguana is in the grip of political upheaval and its silver mines, run by Charles Gould,are in danger of being seized by rebel forces.Nostromo, an italian captain of great courage,undertakes to bury the silver,thus protecting the status quo,aiding Gould in his duty and adding to his own sense of heroism.Yet ideals become tainted and although men may act from the finest of motives,temptation andharsh reality transform or defeat good intentions.Nostromo, with its richly evocative language,its tension,mystery and unsurpassed vision of the world in miniature, is among Conrad`s finest achievements.Though actually depicting ther politics of South America and their inevitable corrupting influence, it has a relevance that is restricted by neither time nor location.