Joseph Conrad Biography
(Known for Short Stories and Novels Like Lord Jim, Heart of Darkness and the Secret Agent)
Birthday: December 3, 1857 (Sagittarius)
Born In: Berdychiv, Ukraine
Joseph Conrad was one of the greatest novelists of his generation, who wrote in English language even though he did not speak the language fluently. He is appreciated for his storytelling abilities and the depiction of breathtaking adventures at sea. Even though he was granted British citizenship, he considered himself to be Polish and often wrote on Polish themes. His short stories and novels, often set in a nautical environment, depicted the trials of the human spirit in the midst of an indifferent universe. His works unveil a strain of romanticism and he is widely regarded as the precursor of modernist literature. Some of his best works include ‘Almayer's Folly’, ‘The Nigger of the 'Narcissus', ‘Heart of Darkness’, ‘The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale’, ‘The Secret Sharer’, ‘Chance’ and ‘Victory’. He served in the merchant navy during his youth but his keen interest and passion for writing led him to quit this job and pursue a career in writing. He was also an established short story writer and published his stories in various prestigious newspapers.