Born in 1857, Joseph Conrad grew up in Polish Ukraine. His family belonged to the aristocratic class known as the szlactha and commanded a fair bit of political power, despite their impoverished living conditions. These living conditions were partially due to Joseph's father, Apollo, choosing to pursue literature and politics over the management of his wife Eva's agricultural estates. Apollo wrote several plays and pieces of satire, which had a profound influence on his son. Apollo would later be arrested on suspicion of involvement in revolutionary activities, throwing the Conrads into exile. Eva developed tuberculosis, which became progressively worse until dying in 1865.
Eva's death...
