Cover of Amy Foster

Amy Foster

by Joseph Conrad

Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"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.

  • Man-woman relationships

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #495. Amy Foster on Wikipedia.

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