Customer Reviews

Joseph Conrad: A Chronicle

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This biography is a triumph--a revised and expanded version of what was already the definitive Conrad biography. "A Life" makes dozens of small corrections to the earlier "Chronicle" (so buy this new edition even if you have the old one) and adds new and fascinating information about Conrad's father, Apollo Korzienowski, undermining the false caricature of him as a hot-headed rebel, and showing instead a more moderate and complex man of culture and politics. The new version also offers new details on the marriage of one of Conrad's sons and many other rich nuggets. My only hesitation is Najder's characterization that Conrad "auto-mythologized" himself in the way that depicted his own life--a term that insinuates Conrad was somehow any different from the rest of humanity all subject to fallible memory and ever-subjective self-rendering. If anything, Conrad was more earnest in his sincerity, despite his discretion and private temperament. But unlike some treatments of Conrad (e.g. Jeffrey Meyers--ugh! the worst!), Najder respects Conrad's temperament and acknowledges what he cannot know. In short, those who love or care about Conrad will ever be in Professor Najder's debt.

This book helps greatly in understanding the background and viewpoint of Conrad's works. It also characterizes Conrad as a very human and simple man. I came away almost pitying the man.