A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE WORK

The English Department of IES Canastell wanted to join the celebrations of the 150 anniversary of Joseph Conrad’s birth, and  prepared with several groups of students some research about his life, works, prose, most important works, thoughts, aims, style… which was shown in posters.

This literary figure is important for us in a number of senses:  Conrad was not an English speaker, his native language was Polish, and his second language was French. Nevertheless, he became one of the greatest and most skilful writers in English language. We must take into account that once he was a learner of English, like our students.

Conrad is important not only from a linguistic point of view, but also he can offer our students an approach to culture through literature and a meditation about human soul and its struggle between evil and good to reach a final common objective: solidarity.

Here we include the article in the UNESCO document where they recognise officially the celebration.

UNESCO

Poland

2007. 150 anniversary of the birth of Joseph Conrad Korzeniowski, writer, (1857- 1924)

Supported by the National Commission  of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for UNESCO.

Joseph Conrad, Polish-born English novelist, primarily seen in his own time as a writer of sailors’ stories, is now highly regarded as a novelist whose works displays a deep moral consciousness and masterful narrative technique. His works, 13 novels, 2 books of memories and 28 short stories demonstrate his major interest in human condition and his political concerns. Some of his novels can be considered autobiographical; however, in all his literary works, fiction and essays, Conrad is predominantly a moralist, highlighting the problems of individual responsibility and human solidarity.