Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-03

This, indeed, is a glowing
record of the life of q master
of romantic prose, a beautiful
appreciation of his literary
genius. The translation has
been made with loving care.
M. Jean-Aubry's book, GER
tain to rank as one Of the
outstanding biographies of the
year. Is. as it claims to be,
probably a definitive account
Of Conrad'S literary life. 1t is
doubtful if anyone will be able
to add much. except perhaps
merely cumulative details, to
this biographer's chronicle of
the background of Conrad's
books-his years at sea and
adventuring over the world
ahd why and how he wrote
when he finally settled down in
&England. On the personal
&Bide, M. Jean-Aubry has left
Neome puzzling gaps.
KS Inherited Talent
Joseph Conrad's decision to
devote himself to writing did
s$not come until he was nearly
80. His great gift was not, as
: sometimes happens. q miracu-
louS thing. without roots or
heritage. He came from we'll
educated. intellectual Poles on
both sides. His father was a
writer who attained a reputa-
ton as dramatiSt and poet.
The young mans hunger for
the sea is harder to under
stand, for all his people were
land owners; none had ever
been to sea.
Conrad was born into a Po-
land which was, as it is today.
dominated and oppressed by
Russians. His father had a
leading part in the abortive
revolt of 1868 and was exiled
TO a Russian town. The father,
Ehis health broken, took along
bis delicate wife and their only
ehild, Conrad. By the time he
Twas II both of Joseph's par
ents had died, and he was
taken under the wing Of an
s uncle. who remained his de-
voted friend and helped the
youth financially. TO the extent
of his limited means, during
Joseph's years of wandering.
Many Adventures
Conrad went to France at
II. He had known the French
language almost from baby
hood. and he sailed as an ap-
prentice seaman out Of Mar
settles. BY the time he was
20 he had made many Foy-
ages, and he found a newaads'
ventTe-gun-running to the
shores of the Basque country
for the Carlist pretender to
the throne of Spain. He had
fought a duel. had a love af-
fair with a lovely Carlist fol-
lower and known. as he later
wrote of one of his characters.
rall the exalted elements of
I romance" before he was %.
He moved to England and en-
tered the merchant marine,
determined to advance. One
of the most amazing facets of
4 his life occurred during the
next eight years. He mastered
the English language and rose
through the grades of mate
until he obtained a master
mariners certificate. Mean
while he made voyages all over
the world and accumulated.
without realizing it at the time
and without ever taking a note.
the scenes and people that
were to live imperishably in
his novels.
!. He was years writing his
first novel. "Almayer's Folly"
working at it now and then
as he sailed through the Far
East and while in London
awaiting another ship. 1.-THE
Outcast Of the Islands," Lord
wJim" and the other books
I followed his final reluctant de-
sertion Of the sea and his
beloved sailing ships. His
health was pretty well broken
he suffered frequently in the
J years ahead with govt and
recurrent fevers, souvenirs of
his adventures-but his spirit
never wavered. The books &C
cumulated. the stories that
made his place as firm in the
romantic tradition of the novel
as Schubert and Schumann
hold in the romantic move
ment in music.
~ A Reticent Man
M. Jean -Aubry knew Con-
rad we'll and Conrad left the
B biographer his letters and
other papers. The French
writer seems to take the posi-
ton that to know Conard you
must go to his books, which
contain SO much OF himself
and his philosophy. He quotes
{ often from "A Personal Rec
Z ord" Conrad's excursion in
autobiography, which told
something Of his life, but left
3 a lot untold, for he was a
reticent man. Conrad's long
correspondence in Polish with
his uncle conveyed much Of
what he was doing from time
to time, but unfortunately his
letters have not been pre-
served, while he saved all his
uncle's letters, and we get a
sort OF backhanded view OF
Conrad's activities from these.
What Was His Faith?
What OF Conrad's religion?
Did he stick by the faith Of
his parents. devout Christians.
or did he drop 1t and perhaps
turn to some other faith? Or
was his only religion an obei-
Ranra IN the U0de NJ chance