Joseph Conrad was born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski on December 3, 1857, in Berdychiv, Poland (now in Ukraine). His father, Apollo Korzeniowski, was a writer and a political activist against Russian rule, which led to the family’s exile to Vologda, Russia. The harsh conditions and the death of Conrad’s mother when he was just seven years old left a profound impact on him. By the age of 11, Conrad was orphaned after his father’s death. At 16, Conrad left Poland for Marseille, France, to begin a career at sea. He sailed under the French and later the British flags; his time at sea exposed him to various cultures and human conditions, providing rich material for his future novels.

In 1886, Conrad became a British citizen and changed his name. He continued his sea voyages until 1894 when he decided to retire from seafaring and devote himself to writing. His first novel, Almayer’s Folly (1895), drew on his experiences in Southeast Asia and established his reputation as a writer.

Conrad’s works, such as Lord Jim (1900) and Heart of Darkness (1899), often delved into the complexities of morality and the impacts of colonialism. The Secret Agent, published in 1907, marked Conrad’s engagement with contemporary political and social issues.