Joseph Conrad

Description

An original interpretation of Joseph Conrad's life of writing Born in Poland in 1857, Joseph Conrad is one of the great writers of the twentieth century. This book traces Conrad's life from his childhood in a Russian penal colony, through his early manhood in Marseille and his years in the British Merchant Navy, to a career as a novelist. It describes how these experiences inspired Conrad's work, from his early Malay novels to his best-known work, Heart of Darkness. Robert Hampson discusses Conrad's important relations with other writers, including Henry James and Ford Madox Ford, as well as his late-life political engagements and his relationships with women. Featuring new interpretations of all of Conrad's major works, this is an original interpretation of Conrad's life of writing.

Robert Hampson was Professor of Modern Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London for many years, and is currently Research Fellow at the university's Institute for English Studies. He is the Chair of the Joseph Conrad Society (UK) and the author of three monographs on Conrad: Joseph Conrad: Betrayal and Identity (1992), Cross-Cultural Encounters in Joseph Conrad's Malay Fiction (2000), and Conrad's Secrets (2013).

"Concise, lucid, balanced, precise, and reliable, the book interweaves skillfully the analyses of the literary works and the unfolding of Conrad's life. What results is a clear, proficient, and moving account of a complex and exemplary genius."--Cedric Watts, emeritus professor of English at the University of Sussex, author of Joseph Conrad: A Literary Life "Insightful, judicious, and elegant, Joseph Conrad marvelously distills a lifetime of learning by one of the world's leading Conrad scholars. Hampson guides us sure-footedly through Conrad's fascinating life--as a Polish immigrant, a professional sailor, and a belatedly successful writer--while deftly examining the critical themes of all his works. Conrad remains a complicated and controversial figure, and Hampson's Conrad--as an introduction for students, a reference for scholars, or a meditation for general readers--delivers the best short guide to his life available."--Maya Jasanoff, Coolidge Professor of History at Harvard University, author of The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World