Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad is a powerful and thought-provoking novel set in Russia and Switzerland in the late 19th century. It tells the story of a young Russian woman, Razumov, whose life is thrown into turmoil when his friend, a revolutionary, is arrested and implicated in an assassination plot. The novel explores themes of morality, loyalty, political idealism and betrayal, as Razumov is forced to make difficult choices between his own safety and the safety of others. With its Russian setting and engaging with many of the same themes, Under Western Eyes is considered by some to be Conrad's answer to Dostoeyevksy's Crime and Punishment . With its vivid and memorable characters, powerful narrative, and compelling themes, Under Western Eyes is a classic of literary fiction and a must-read for anyone interested in the political and social struggles of the times. Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski; 3 December 1857 – 3 August 1924) was a Polish-British writer widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language. His works explore themes of the individual's search for meaning in life, the moral ambiguity of human behavior, and the search for identity. His style was imbued with a realism that was both poetic and philosophical. Heart of Darkness (1902), Lord Jim (1900), The Secret Agent (1907), The Shadow Line (1917), and Chance (1913) are among his best-known novels, and his short stories, such as "Youth" (1898), "The Lagoon" (1896) and "The Secret Sharer" (1910), are considered classics of literature. His works have been widely translated, adapted into films, and studied in classrooms, and their influence on other writers, such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, is clear. Conrad is seen as a major figure in the development of the modernist novel, and his works continue to captivate readers and scholars alike.