Joseph Conrad 
Nostromo – Joseph Conrad 
A Tale of Seaboard

Joseph Conrad was an English-language writer, best known for works like ‘Nostromo, ‘ ‘Lord Jim, ‘ and ‘Heart of Darkness, ‘ immortalized on screen by Marlon Brando in ‘Apocalypse Now.’ Of Polish origin but settled in England, Joseph Conrad was considered one of the most important authors in the English language, and ‘Nostromo’ is regarded by critics as his finest work. The novel is set in the fictional South American republic of ‘Costaguana, ‘ which has a long history of tyranny, revolution, and war but experiences a period of stability. The character Nostromo is an Italian expatriate who rose to his position through bravery and is seen as a useful instrument to the local oligarchy. Nostromo is tasked with removing the silver from Sulaco to keep it away from the revolutionaries. Unfortunately, Nostromo's exploits do not bring him the expected recognition, leading him into corruption and eventual destruction. The captivating work ‘Nostromo’ is part of the collection ‘1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.’

Mengenai Pengarang

Józef Teodor Konrad Nalecz Korzeniowski (1857-1924), known as Joseph Conrad, was born in Ukraine, part of the former Russian Empire, on December 3, 1857. The son of Polish parents who were exiled to Vologda, Russia, he was orphaned at the age of 11 and placed under the care of his maternal uncle.
At the age of 16, Conrad decided to travel to Marseille, where he worked on ships of the French Merchant Navy. In 1878, he began serving on a British ship to escape Russian military service. Over the years, he traveled to various cities in Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. By this time, he had already mastered the English language. After several attempts, he passed the examination for a master mariner's certificate in the British Merchant Navy. After many years at sea, he arrived in London for the first time and settled in England. Finally, he was granted British citizenship in 1886.
In 1894, Conrad decided to abandon his successful seafaring career to dedicate himself to literature. The countless voyages he undertook aboard ships provided ample material for his stories. In 1895, he published his first book, ‘Almayer's Folly, ‘ which was well received by critics and the public. In the same year, he married Jessie George. In 1897, he wrote ‘The Nigger of the 'Narcissus.'’
Joseph Conrad wrote a total of seventeen novels, including ‘Lord Jim’ (1900), ‘Nostromo’ (1904), ‘The Secret Agent’ (1907), and ‘Under Western Eyes’ (1911), as well as seven novellas, among which ‘Heart of Darkness’ (1902) stands out. He also wrote the essay ‘The Mirror of the Sea’ (1906) and the memoirs ‘Some Reminiscences’ (1912) and ‘A Personal Record’ (1912).
Conrad was considered one of the great writers of the English language. His fictional works almost always have the sea as a central setting. His style combined introspection and psychological analysis, often focusing on individuals in crisis with their own identity and humanity. His characters are often isolated from society and face extreme situations. Although English was not his native language, he was praised for the mastery of his writing. ‘Heart of Darkness’ was adapted into the film ‘Apocalypse Now’ by Francis Ford Coppola in 1979.
Joseph Conrad passed away in Bishopsbourne, England, on August 3, 1924.