LIFE AND LETTERS by G. JEAN-AUBRY Volume I Published by DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO. GARDEN CITY NEW YORK 193 TO EDWARD GARNETT AND ROBERT CUNNINGHAME GRAHAM To you I dedicate this book: not only because you are likely to be among those most interested in it, but because you two were the first friends Conrad's writings won for him, and because your friendship, which he valued greatly, lasted till the day he died. Better than others you know with what engaging and simple sincerity he used to talk about his childhood and his youth; but though his talk about himself was free from pose and mystification, that past was so unusual that none of us could feel sure that our knowledge of it was either accurate or complete. Naturally, in these days, when curiosity is keener than the desire for truth, the picturesqueness of such a career bred many rumours, the inaccuracy of which merely amused Conrad himself, who was quite indifferent to notoriety. Nevertheless, it should be possible-and it is most desirable to trace every step in that strange career, and this is what I have tried to do, trusting that the narration of plain facts would reveal most clearly his greatness as a man. And more than that, my plan of following minutely the events of his life will show how immense was the transmuting power of his imagination and that nothing happened to him in vain. It would have been easy for me, who have lived in some intimacy both with Conrad and his books, to introduce my own sentiments and opinions in the course of it, but I have carefully, even regretfully, abstained; perhaps some day I shall write from a more personal point of view. Long before Conrad died and left us our unfading memories, I began to collect material for this biography, little thinking, however, that I should be so suddenly entrusted with the melancholy task of tracing the path through life of one of the rarest spirits of our times. I cannot flatter myself that I have unravelled every puzzle; some incidents still remain obscure: but you will find nothing conjectural in this book, nothing unsupported by documentary evidence. If others, more fortunate, should some day discover facts unknown to me, I can at least feel sure that their discoveries will not discredit what is here recorded. The Bibliography at the end will show that my authorities have been diverse and many. It was thought best that Conrad's Letters should be bound up with his biography, and the selection has devolved upon me. I have done my best to choose among not less than two thousand of his letters, English, French, and Polish. Some of the latter have been translated and included, but those written in French are so many and so individual in style that it has been decided to publish them, later, in a book for a French-reading public. The English letters are, of course, much the most numerous: so numerous, indeed, that it was impossible to include them all, though many of those which had to be omitted are nearly as worthy of publication. I must thank you both for the personal recollections which you have put at my disposal, for your good advice, and for the letters you have entrusted to my discretion.1 I should like also to take this opportunity of thanking others who have contributed to the making of this book. First, Mrs. Conrad and Miss Angèle Zagórska, the cousin of our friend: both of them have helped me immensely by allowing me to draw upon those memories of Conrad which they treasure. I must thank, too, His Excellency Mr. Skirmunt, Polish Minister in Great Britain, Miss Cecile Podoska and Mr. F. B. Czarnowski of the Polish Legation in London: M. and Mme C. Godebski, Mme Luniewska, née Rakowska, who have helped me with Polish documents; Sir Sidney Colvin, Sir Edmund Gosse, Sir Hugh Clifford, Messrs. Richard Curle, John Galsworthy, Spiridion Kliszczewski, Desmond MacCarthy, Eric Pinker, E. L. Sanderson, and H. G. Wells. I also wish to thank the manager of the "Société Anonyme Belge pour le Commerce du Haut-Congo"; M. Berthet, Maritime Administrator at Havre; M. Nègre, Maritime Administrator at Marseilles; M. Joseph Colmain, clerk of the Maritime Registry at Marseilles; Captain Nicholson, secretary to the Ship Masters' Association, and Mr. Basil Lubbock also Mr. Henry James, nephew of the distinguished novelist, and, lastly, Mr. T. J. Wise, who has generously lent me some of the treasures of his valuable Conrad library. I have endeavoured, in writing this life, to do service to the memory of one who is equally dear to us; nor do I forget that it is to the devotion which we share that I also owe the kindness you have shown me and the right to sign myself now Your affectionate and grateful friend, 1 Some of Joseph Conrad's letters to Edward Garnett have been included. The whole of this correspondence will be published shortly in a separate volume. |