Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad was born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski on 3 December 1857 in what was then the Russian Empire (present-day Ukraine). Though he did not speak English fluently until his twenties and always retained a strong accent, he became a master prose stylist and is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. Conrad drew on his early life in partitioned Poland and his experiences in the French and British merchant navies to create fiction that explored imperialism, colonialism, and the human psyche. His best-known works include *Heart of Darkness*, *Lord Jim*, and *Nostromo*, all written in the first two decades of the 20th century. He is often described as a literary impressionist or early modernist, and his narrative style and anti-heroic characters have influenced countless authors. Many of his stories, particularly those set at sea, have been adapted into films. Conrad died on 3 August 1924 in Bishopsbourne, England. His works remain in print and are frequently adapted for other media, including comic book editions such as *Classics Illustrated* and *Herz der Finsternis*.