Joseph Conrad was an exceptionally talented writer who emerged as a novelist and storyteller in the late 19th century. Born in Poland and fluent in French by the age of 20, he embarked on sea voyages, journeying through the jungles of Africa and East Asia, and sailed up rivers to discover the “hearts of darkness.” Conrad passed away at the age of 67 in 1924.
From 1878 to 1894, Conrad spent sixteen years in the British Merchant Service and under various Eastern flags. His voyages took him from Australia and Borneo to the coasts of China, and from India and Java to Malaya and the Philippines, as well as to the Mediterranean and beyond. A keen observer and quick learner, he mastered the English language to the extent that he could comfortably chronicle his experiences with remarkable detail in lucid English prose. The art and stylistic mastery of Conrad’s works have astonished both critics and readers alike.
Conrad became a naturalized British citizen in 1886 and wrote his first story, ‘Almayer’s Folly’, in 1895 when he was in his late 30s. For the next 30 years, he devoted himself entirely to writing, with his books appearing in quick succession. After ‘Almayer’s Folly’, his second novel, ‘An Outcast of the Islands’, appeared in 1896, both works narrating tales of Eastern kingdoms and European exiles who met their fates there. While ‘Almayer’s Folly’ centred on the life of the Dutch trader Kaspar Almayer in the Borneo jungle and his relationship with his mixed-heritage daughter Nina, ‘An Outcast of the Islands’ was inspired by Conrad’s experience as mate of a steamer, the Vidar.
For those who have not read ‘An Outcast of the Islands’, it was adapted into a film in 1951 by director Carol Reed, featuring Trevor Howard, Ralph Richardson, and Robert Morley. The novel tells the story of Peter Willems, a man who occupies a position of trust with a merchant in an East Asian port but........