Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad was born in Berdychiv, a region that was part of Poland before he was born, was part of Russia at the time he was born, and is today part of Ukraine. Conrad’s family, particularly his father, was politically active, with a strong interest in Polish patriotism and reclaiming former Polish land from Russia. Both of Conrad’s parents died of tuberculosis by the time he was 11, and he lived for a while with an uncle, then at a boarding school. Eventually, he joined the merchant marines, first for France, then eventually for Britain, which became his home for most of his adult life. Compared to many writers, Conrad began his career later in life, not even becoming fluent in English until his early twenties. He published his first novel, Almayer’s Folly, in 1895, but he is perhaps best known for the short novel Heart of Darkness (1899), followed closely by Lord Jim (1900). Conrad wrote several other novels and shorts stories, and in general, his works were very well-received, earning praise from critics and other writers of the time. When he died in 1924, he was one of the most famous writers in the world, and his works remain widely read and adapted.