Joseph Conrad Research Paper

Seungyoon Shin
Mr. Clark
British Literature
May 5, 2015
Conrad, Joseph
Joseph Conrad was born on December 3, 1857 in Poland between Apollo Korzeniowski and Ewa Bobrowskawith. He was the only child, and his name was Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski. After his father, Apollo Korzeniowski, joined a resistance movement against the Russian Empire, his family was exiled from the Poland and sent to Russia territory, Vologda and Chernihiv (Wikipedia). Apollo wrote variety plays and criticized the reality. Although his activity was not well known, it greatly influenced Conrad’s literary works later (Gradesaver). Conrad’s parents died early, and he became an orphan at an age eleven. And then, he was raised by his uncle in Poland (biography). Since he spent most of his childhood in

Due to the repetitive removal from places at a young age, his education was irregular. Apollo home schooled at first, which strongly influenced his writing afterwards, and then he attended the private school. Even though he had no interest in studying, he mastered French and knew some Latin, Greek, and German. He was also a member of Intelligentsia, which was a social group of educated people that played important role to develop society. He started his sailing as a mariner at an age 16, and also became a merchant due his uncle’s friend’s introduction. He spent 19 years seafaring. He did international gun smuggling and gained debt. He even tried suicide and failed (Wikipedia). He visited different places, including the Belgian Congo and Australia during the seafaring years. These experiences are portrayed in his literary works afterwards. In 1894, he quitted a seafaring job and became a professional writer (Yale Modernism Lab). In 1896, he married with Jessie George who is 16 years younger than Conrad, and they had two son, Borys and John. Jessie George well supported Conrad to write numerous stories.