Conrad Observed

Abstract

Not surprisingly, most of the accounts of Conrad’s appearance, behaviour and speech refer to his later years, after he had settled in England, become a professional writer, and married. Although a few photographs survive from his earlier years, descriptions are scarce. From about the turn of the century, however, they become much more numerous; for while Conrad came to dislike London and did not frequent metropolitan literary coteries, he was not unsociable and enjoyed many friendships, literary and nonliterary, as well as welcoming guests into his various homes. Many of those who knew him well, or even slightly, set down their impressions sooner or later — in some cases much later; and in addition we have the testimony of his wife and his two sons. This section quotes briefly from some of the most striking of these accounts in order to present a composite portrait of Conrad the man. Further relevant material will be found in the entries for the following in ‘A Conrad Who’s Who’ above: Epstein, Ford, Galsworthy, Harris, Hope, Morrell, Rothenstein, Russell, Walpole, Wells. Some accounts of Conrad’s speech will be found in the next section, ‘Conrad’s Laneuages’.