Author: Joseph Conrad

Book: “Heart of Darkness”

Author: Joseph Conrad.

Joseph Conrad was an author of “Heart of Darkness”. He is regarded one of the best novelists. He was born on December 3, 1857 in Berdichev, Ukraine. His parents were polish nobles. His father was a writer and a translator. After his parents had died, his uncle brought up him. When he was a child, he wanted to be a sailor. That is why, he went to the port of France in order to be mariner. He suffered from a lot of adventures. He made journey many various places around the world, before he started his literary career.

So, if we focus on the period which he lived, the movement which was called Modernism appeared at that time. As Modernism came during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, it is the period of changes. In this period, modern socities and cities developed. There were changes in all areas: literature, art, architecture, social organizations, daily life activities and so on. Modernism writers and poets created their works in the traditional form of literature. Also, innovative techniques arose in literature such as the stream of consciousness, interior monologue. A remarkable feature of this period is self-consciousness and irony concerning literary and traditional way of writing.

Joseph Conrad was a representative of Modernism period. His works influenced not only this period but numerous author’s creation. For example, “Almayer’s Folly”, “Tales of Unrest”, “Lord Jim”, “The secret Agent” and others.

His writing style distinguish from other writers. He produced his works as encouragement, consolation, the glimpse of truth. His works posses such power that it make reader hear, make reader feel, make reader see. In addition, he described personal experience and adventures, social conditions and real problems related to his period. We can take “Heart of Darkness” as an example.

Vocabulary:

Self-consciousness- something shows that artists, writers etc is paying too much attention to how the public will react to their work

Irony-a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony

Consolation-something that makes you feel better when you are sad or disappointed