Lord Jim

Józef Teodor Konrad Nalecz Korzeniowski (1857-1924), known as Joseph Conrad, was born in Ukraine, then part of the former Russian Empire, on December 3, 1857. The son of Polish parents who had been exiled to Vologda, Russia, he became an orphan at the age of 11 and was placed under the care of his maternal uncle. At 16, Conrad decided to travel to Marseille, where he worked on ships of the French Merchant Navy. In 1878, he began serving on a British ship to escape Russian military service. Over the years, he traveled extensively to various cities across Asia, Africa, America, and Europe, already fluent in the English language. After several attempts, he passed the examination to become a captain in the British Merchant Navy. After spending several years in the navy, he entered London for the first time and settled in England, eventually obtaining British nationality in 1886.

In 1894, Conrad decided to abandon his successful career as a sailor to dedicate himself to literature. The countless voyages he undertook aboard ships provided ample material for his stories. In 1895, he published his first book, "Almayer's Folly," which was well received by both critics and the public. That same year, he married Jessie George. Joseph Conrad was considered one of the great writers of the English language. His fictional works almost always featured the sea as a central setting. His style combined introspection and psychological analysis, often portraying characters in crisis with their own identity and human condition. His characters were often isolated from society and faced extreme situations. Although English was not his native language, he was praised for the mastery of his writing. "Heart of Darkness" was adapted into the film "Apocalypse Now" by Francis Ford Coppola in 1979.

Joseph Conrad passed away in Bishopsbourne, England, on August 3, 1924.