Amy Foster

"Amy Foster" by Joseph Conrad is a short story written in 1901. A shipwrecked emigrant from Central Europe washes ashore in England, where terrified locals reject him as a madman because he speaks no English. Eventually given shelter, Yanko Goorall learns some English and marries Amy Foster, a servant who showed him kindness. But cultural differences haunt their relationship, and Amy remains disturbed by his foreign language and customs. When fever strikes Yanko, a tragic misunderstanding unfolds that reveals the devastating cost of isolation and failed communication.

Amy Foster, by Joseph Conrad. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #495.