Joseph Conrad, born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, is a master of the English novel despite not speaking the language fluently until his twenties. His years as a merchant sailor provided the raw material for his intense psychological dramas, including 'Heart of Darkness', 'Lord Jim', and 'Nostromo'. Conrad’s writing is celebrated for its atmospheric power and its unflinching look at themes of isolation, moral failure, and the ambiguity of the human heart. His work bridged the gap between 19th-century realism and the fragmented consciousness of modernism. By exploring the psychological toll of imperialism and the chaos of the natural world, Conrad established himself as one of the most profound and technically brilliant stylists in modern literature.