Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was a Polish-born British author, perhaps best known for his work Heart of Darkness. He was also the author of several other influential novels: Lord Jim, Nostromo, The Secret Sharer, and The Nigger of the Narcissus. Conrad was originally a sailor before he turned to writing. Remarkably, English was Conrad's third language after Polish and French.
His novels are a valuable insight into the workings and ideas of the Age of Colonialism, including the scramble for Africa.