'As a Pole, with deep knowledge not only of Polish history and culture but also of the whole tradition of European literature and thought, Najder comes closer to Conrad than anyone else conceivably could. As a result, he writes of Conrad with an inwardness, a familiarity, an authority, which cannot be equalled. For Conrad studies he is, really, indispensable.' Tony Tanner

• 1. Introduction, or confession of a mastodon; 2. Conrad's Polish background or, from biography to a study of culture; 3. Joseph Conrad's parents; 4. Joseph Conrad and Tadeusz Bobrowski; 5. The Sisters: a grandiose failure; 6. Lord Jim: a romantic tragedy of honour; 7. The Mirror of the Sea; 8. A Personal Record; 9. The Secret Agent or the melodrama of reality; 10. Conrad, Russia, and Dostoevsky; 11. Conrad and Rousseau: concepts of man and society; 12. Conrad and the idea of honour; 13. Joseph Conrad: a European writer; 14. Joseph Conrad after a century; 15. Joseph Conrad in his historical perspective; 16. Fidelity and art: Joseph Conrad's cultural heritage and literary programme; Notes; Index.

'As a Pole, with deep knowledge not only of Polish history and culture but also of the whole tradition of European literature and thought, Najder comes closer to Conrad than anyone else conceivably could. As a result, he writes of Conrad with an inwardness, a familiarity, an authority, which cannot be equalled. For Conrad studies he is, really, indispensable.' Tony Tanner

• 1. Introduction, or confession of a mastodon; 2. Conrad's Polish background or, from biography to a study of culture; 3. Joseph Conrad's parents; 4. Joseph Conrad and Tadeusz Bobrowski; 5. The Sisters: a grandiose failure; 6. Lord Jim: a romantic tragedy of honour; 7. The Mirror of the Sea; 8. A Personal Record; 9. The Secret Agent or the melodrama of reality; 10. Conrad, Russia, and Dostoevsky; 11. Conrad and Rousseau: concepts of man and society; 12. Conrad and the idea of honour; 13. Joseph Conrad: a European writer; 14. Joseph Conrad after a century; 15. Joseph Conrad in his historical perspective; 16. Fidelity and art: Joseph Conrad's cultural heritage and literary programme; Notes; Index.

'As a Pole, with deep knowledge not only of Polish history and culture but also of the whole tradition of European literature and thought, Najder comes closer to Conrad than anyone else conceivably could. As a result, he writes of Conrad with an inwardness, a familiarity, an authority, which cannot be equalled. For Conrad studies he is, really, indispensable.' Tony Tanner

• 1. Introduction, or confession of a mastodon; 2. Conrad's Polish background or, from biography to a study of culture; 3. Joseph Conrad's parents; 4. Joseph Conrad and Tadeusz Bobrowski; 5. The Sisters: a grandiose failure; 6. Lord Jim: a romantic tragedy of honour; 7. The Mirror of the Sea; 8. A Personal Record; 9. The Secret Agent or the melodrama of reality; 10. Conrad, Russia, and Dostoevsky; 11. Conrad and Rousseau: concepts of man and society; 12. Conrad and the idea of honour; 13. Joseph Conrad: a European writer; 14. Joseph Conrad after a century; 15. Joseph Conrad in his historical perspective; 16. Fidelity and art: Joseph Conrad's cultural heritage and literary programme; Notes; Index.