The biographical, historical, cultural and political contexts of Conrad's work in a series of short, accessible chapters.

Chronology Allan H. Simmons; Part I. Life and Works: 1. Life J. H. Stape; 2. Chronology of composition and publication Katherine Isobel Baxter; 3. Language Mary Morzinski and Veronique Pauly; 4. Letters Gene M. Moore; 5. Literary influences Owen Knowles; 6. Biographies and memoirs David Miller; 7. Portraits and illustrations J. H. Stape; Part II. Critical Fortunes: 8. Critical responses: contemporary Allan H. Simmons; 9. Critical responses: 1925¿50 Owen Knowles; 10. Critical responses: 1950¿75 Richard Niland; 11. Critical responses: 1975¿2000 Andrew Purssell; 12. Dramatic and other adaptations Richard Hand; 13. Translations Mario Curreli; Part III. Historical and Cultural Contexts: 14. Africa Allan H. Simmons; 15. Anarchism M. S. Newton; 16. Disease and medicine Martin Bock; 17. Eastern Europe Addison Bross; 18. Far East J. H. Stape; 19. Fin de siècle Laurence Davies; 20. First World War Richard Niland; 21. Intellectual movements Richard Niland; 22. Literary movements Robert G. Hampson; 23. Modernism Michael Levenson; 24. Nationalism and Empire Allan H. Simmons; 25. Politics Allan H. Simmons; 26. Popular culture Stephen Donovan; 27. Publishing Aaron Zacks; 28. Reading Linda Dryden; 29. Religion John Lester; 30. Science and technology Matt Rubery; 31. Sea Robert Foulke; 32. Society Amar Acheraiou; Further reading; Index.