On account of Conrad's tragic and fascinating life before he became a writer, critics have usually offered a historical account of his early Polish years. Less attention has been paid to the cultural and literary background of that period and its subsequent influence. In fact, initially that influence was largely ignored. My aim has been not only to rectify that deficiency but to broaden the scope of the issue. In addition to dealing with his Polish background, the book also relates Conrad's writing to other European literary traditions, notably French and Russian. Exploring the extraordinary geographical and historical range of Conrad's fictional world, the book examines the rhetorical and narrative strategies employed in its vividly dramatic as well as psychologically insightful depictions.