Joseph Conrad : a life / Zdzisław Najder ; translated by Halina Najder.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Najder, Zdzisław, author.

Contributor:

Carroll-Najder, Halina, translator.

Series:

Studies in English and American Literature and Culture

Standardized Title:

Życie Conrada-Korzeniowskiego. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924.

Conrad, Joseph.

Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924--Knowledge and learning.

Authors, English--20th century--Biography.

Authors, English.

Poland--In literature.

Poland.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxiv, 745 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

second extensively revised English-language edition.

Place of Publication:

Rochester, N.Y. : Camden House, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Up-to-date and extensive revision of Najder's much-acclaimed scholarly biography of Conrad, employing newly accessible sources. Joseph Conrad is not only one of the world's great writers of English -- and world -- literature, but was a writer who lived a particularly full and interesting life. For the biographer this is a double-edged sword, however: thereare many periods for which documentation is uncommonly difficult. Zdzislaw Najder's meticulously documented biography first appeared in English in 1983, garnering high praise as the best, most complete biography of Conrad. Najder's command of English, French, Polish, and Russian allowed him access to a greater variety of sources than any other biographer, and his Polish background and his own experience as an exile have afforded him a unique affinity forConrad and his milieu. All this has come into play once again in the present, extensively revised edition: much of its extensive new material was unearthed in newly-opened former east-bloc archives. There is new material on Conrad's father's genealogy and his role in Polish politics; Conrad's service in the French and British merchant marines; his early English reading and correspondence; his experiences in the Congo; the circumstances of writing his memoirs, and much more. In addition, several aspects of Conrad's life and works are more thoroughly analyzed: his problems with the English language; his borrowings from French writers; his attitude toward socialism, his reaction to the reception of his books. Zdzislaw Najder teaches at the European Academy, Cracow.

Contents:

In the shadow of alien ghosts, 1857-1874

In Marseilles, 1874-1878

The Red ensign, 1878-1886

Master in the British merchant marine, 1886-1890

To the end of the night, 1890

The sail and the pen, 1891-1894

Work and romance, 1894-1896

Strivings, experiments, doubts : 1896-1898

Ford, the pent, and Jim : 1898-1900

Difficult maturity, 1900-1904

Uphill, 1904-1909

Crisis and success, 1910-1914

Journey to Poland, 1914

The war and the memories, 1914-1919

Hope and resignation, 1919-1924.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 10 Mar 2023).

Includes bibliographical references (p. [687]-703) and indexes.

ISBN:

9786611949129

1-57113-697-5