Best known as the author of "Heart of Darkness" (1899), Joseph
Conrad (1857-1924) is one of the most widely taught writers in
English. His mastery of the English language is especially notable,
for he was born in a Ukrainian area of Poland under Czarist Russian
rule and began a sea career in France. He joined the British
merchant fleet, and his travels took him to European imperial
outposts throughout Asia, South America, and Africa. To pass the
monotonous time on land between journeys, he began to write fiction
in English. Never quite at home anywhere, he spoke a thickly
accented mix of English, Polish, and French. He sometimes posed as
a flirtatious Frenchman, a fallen Polish nobleman, and an English
country squire and man of letters. Like many writers, his works
reflect his experiences. Interest in his writings has become
especially strong, in light of their relationship to marginality
and postcolonialism.
As a reference book, this volume is a comprehensive guide to
Conrad's troubled life and enduring literary legacy. An opening
biographical chapter tells the story of his difficulties,
adventures, and achievements. It also summarizes the current state
of biographical research on Conrad and provides a useful context
for approaching his works. The chapter that follows builds on the
biography by discussing the importance of Conrad's letters to our
understanding of his life and writings. Additional chapters examine
each of his major works, while others address clusters of his later
novels, his short fiction, and his essays and memoirs. Each chapter
is written by an expert contributor and offers a combination of
summary and original scholarship. Thus the volume provides
important biographical, bibliographical, and contextual information
to those readers new to Conrad, while it simultaneously gives
experienced readers a wealth of fresh critical perspectives.
General
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