Product Details

• Actors: Joseph Conrad
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: July 25, 2006
• Run Time: 45 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B000G1ALK2
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #115,142 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A fascinating documentary that presents the story of the writer's life, and examines the social and political events that influenced their works. Joseph Conrad (1857-1024) was born on December 3rd, 1857 near Berdichev, Poland (now in the Ukraine), the son of a Polish noble. From his father, the boy acquired a love of literature, including romantic tales of the sea. He was orphaned at the age of 12 and when 16 year old he left Russian-occupied Poland and made his way to Marseille, France. For the next four years, he shipped on French vessels. He then entered the British merchant service, becoming a master mariner and a naturalized British subject in 1886.

For the next decade he traveled widely, mostly in eastern waters. Conrad’s experiences, especially in the Malay Archipelago and on the Congo River in 1890, are reflected in his writing, which was done in English, his fourth language (after Russian, Polish, and French).

Writing did not come easily to Conrad, although he produced 13 novels, 2 volumes of memoirs, and 28 short stories. Conrad’s life at sea and in foreign ports furnished the background for much of his writing, giving rise to the impression that he was primarily committed to the exotic. In reality, however, his major interest was the human condition.

Conrad’s best known novel is Lord Jim (1900). Among his other notable works are The Secret Agent (1907), Under Western Eyes (1911), Victory (1915), and the short story Heart of Darkness (1902).

In most of his writings, his viewpoint is pessimistic, his character development masterly, and his prose rich, sometimes florid. Although the chronology of his novels is often confusing, his narrative style nonetheless conveys mystery and suspense.

Conrad died at Bishopsbourne, near Canterbury, on August 3rd, 1924.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A famous, Polish, Anglophone, Seafaring Author, June 29, 2007

By	Jeffery Mingo (Homewood, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This work discusses how Conrad used his seafaring experience to later write novels. We learn how a Polish-born individual becomes a writer publishing works in the English language.

This work has moving images, both old and reenacted, to keep the viewer's interest. Other works speak mostly of author's lives and little of the writing that made them famous. This work is filled with someone reading quotes from Conrad. Did the creators want to jazz things up or if they had little biographical info on Conrad and had to work with scraps? I'm not sure.

When I read "Heart of Darkness" in a high school English class, his other books were never brought up. Like Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" and Ellison's "Invisible Man," I assumed "Hearts" was Conrad's only work. This documentary shows that Conrad wrote much more and mentions little about "Hearts."

Though Conrad was a naturalized British citizen, the work says his books were better received in America than in the United Kingdom. Though Herman Melville's name never comes up, I couldn't help but think of "Moby Dick" was I was watching this.