Joseph Conrad

1857 - 1924 *

novelist and short story writer, one of the first of the Modernist movement; Polish-born

Joseph Conrad, one of the finest writers of English prose, was Polish and only started speaking English when he was 21. Born in Ukraine, his father's political activity caused the family to be exiled to Russia. Conrad's mother died when he was 7, and his father a short time afterwards. Conrad was cared for by his uncle; but ye longed to go to sea. In 1874 he did, embarking on a French vessel, and beginning his career as a sailor which supplied much material for his writing.

In 1886 he became a British subject and shortly afterwards a master mariner; he later settled in England and spent his time writing.

Conrad's narrative technique employs breaks in time by using a narrator (in several of his texts called Marlow) who also comments on the action.

Conrad was one of the leading Modernists; his texts, particularly one of his most famous short novels, Heart of Darkness, show an occupation with psychology and the unconscious mind. In many respects, his works preempted literature of the twentieth century.

          Source: Classics Network Editorial Team

Polish-born English novelist and short-story writer. In his famous preface to THE NIGGER OF THE 'NARCISSUS' (1897) Conrad crystallized his often quoted goal as a writer: "My task which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you fell - it is, above all, to make you see. That - and no more, and it is everything." Among Conrad's most popular works are LORD JIM (1900) and HEART OF DARKNESS (1902). Conrad discouraged interpretation of his sea novels through evidence from his life, but several of his novels drew the material, events, and personalities ... [read entire biography]

          Source: Public Domain

These essays offer analysis of the author's life and works. Many of them have been submitted by users, and are assigned an Editorial Rating on a scale from one to five stars to assist you in evaluating their worth. See also: Note on Essays, Editorial Policy.

     

Point of View Manipulating Readers in Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad -- The effects of point of view
By [unknown]	Editorial Rating:

Darkness and Light: the Illumination of Reality and Unreality in Heart of Darkness -- Heart of Darkness, a metaphor equating light with knowledge and civility and darkness with mystery and savagery
By MAHMOOD AZIZI, Masters Student	Editorial Rating:

Racism vs. the True Meaning of Heart of Darkness -- The meaning found within Heart of Darkness far outweighs its racist undertones.
By Ben Culver, High School Student	Editorial Rating:

A Choice of Nightmares -- The nature of identity in Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'.
By Jeremy Davies, Undergraduate Student	Editorial Rating:

Conrad: a Complicit and Unwitting Correspondent of European Colonisation -- Heart of Darkness as colonial oppression.
By [unknown]	Editorial Rating:

HEART OF DARKNESS; A SYMBOLIC SEA QUEST -- THIS ESSAY MAINLY DISCUSSES THE SYMBOLIC VALUE AND CONTENT OF CONRAD'S MAJOR NOVEL
By MAHMOOD AZIZI,	Editorial Rating:

Representation of Race and Gender in Heart of Darkness -- Two essays discuss the Eurocentric attitude towards the native people of Africa and towards women in Conrad's Heart of Darkness.
By Andrew Nicol, Student	Editorial Rating:

Racism Within Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' -- Examines allegations of racism towards Native Africans in Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'.
By Ainsley Brett,	Editorial Rating:

Marlowe's Function as a Narrator in 'Heart of Darkness' -- Focuses on Marlowe's function in the novel and his relationship to the author.
By gulmeena shahid,	Editorial Rating:

Images In The Heart of Darkness -- In Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Marlow charecterizes ideas, events and location with images.
By kubra uygur, Undergraduate Student	Editorial Rating:

dramatic situations - Eisenbart poems -- the establishment and development of these dramatic situations in two of Eisenbart's poems, Panther and Peacock, and Prize Giving, is discussed
By Alastair Lagrange, Student	Editorial Rating:

Cloaking Oneself -- Analysis of Symbolism in "Secret Sharer"
By John Marinacci, Student	Editorial Rating:

The "misty halo" – An Exploration Into the Range of Readings of Conrad's Heart of Darkness -- By investigating the range of meanings of the text, attempts to disprove a particular reading.
By Andrew Nicol, Student	Editorial Rating:

'All the hearts that beat in the darkness': On the Title of Conrad's Heart of Darkness -- A brief psychoanalytic reading of Heart of Darkness in terms of its title.
By Andrew Nicol, Student	Editorial Rating:

Iago's character traits -- amorality, duplicity, cynicism, pride, and of course, ego. Presented by the speech and actions of all characters, the modern audience can construct a character sketch of Othello that contains all the elements stated above
By Alastair Lagrange, Student	Editorial Rating:

Shadows in the Darkness -- A novel study on Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness
By Jess Armstrong, Student	Editorial Rating:

     

Miscellaneous

		Research Guide to Joseph Conrad -- a useful list of print resources on Conrad http://vax.wcsu.edu/library/gd_conrad.ht... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 753 5 users have rated it an average of 3.4 stars     [rate it]

     

   The mind of man is capable of anything - because everything is in it, all the past as well as all the future.

Joseph Conrad ,    

   All a man can betray is his conscience.

Joseph Conrad ,    

   Every age is fed on illusions, lest men should renounce life early and the human race come to an end.

Joseph Conrad ,    

  Woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young to hope, to love - and to put its trust in life.

Joseph Conrad , None    

  A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires.

Joseph Conrad , None    

  As to honor—you know—it's a very fine mediaeval inheritance which women never got hold of. It wasn't theirs.

Joseph Conrad , None    

  The real significance of crime is in its being a breach of faith with the community of mankind.

Joseph Conrad , None    

  I have wrestled with death. It is the most unexciting contest you can imagine. It takes place in an impalpable grayness, with nothing underfoot, with nothing around, without spectators, without clamor, without glory, without the great desire of victory, without the great fear of defeat.

Joseph Conrad , None    

  Only in men's imagination does every truth find an effective and undeniable existence. Imagination, not invention, is the supreme master of art as of life.

Joseph Conrad , None    

  Some great men owe most of their greatness to the ability of detecting in those they destine for their tools the exact quality of strength that matters for their work.

Joseph Conrad , None    

More quotes by this author are available...

Additional searches

Conrad at Encarta Encyclopedia

Conrad at Britannica Encyclopedia

Conrad at Xrefer.com