The French Face of Joseph Conrad [Paperback]

A large-scale account of Conrad's extensive involvement with the French literary tradition.A large-scale account of Conrad's extensive involvement with the French literary tradition, Yves Hervouet's book is a milestone in our understanding of his work. It will have a major impact on Conrad scholarship and as a study of cross-cultural influence, it will be of interest to all students of comparative literature in the period.A large-scale account of Conrad's extensive involvement with the French literary tradition, Yves Hervouet's book is a milestone in our understanding of his work. It will have a major impact on Conrad scholarship and as a study of cross-cultural influence, it will be of interest to all students of comparative literature in the period.Joseph Conrad has generally been regarded as a novelist with dual Polish and English national affinities. This study argues for a triple identity by introducing the French face of Conrad's work, demonstrating that his knowledge of the French language and its literature has profound implications for the study of the novels. Yves Hervouet documents chronologically the influence of French authors including Flaubert, Maupassant and Anatole France, building up a picture of Conrad at work. This first large-scale account of Conrad's involvement with a French literary, aesthetic and philosophical tradition provokes an important reassessment of his creative originality. It should have a major impact on Conrad scholarship, and as a study of cross-cultural influence, it will be of interest to all students of comparative literature in the period.Foreword; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; Introduction; Part I. Conrad's French Literary and Cultural Background: 1. A part of Conrad's life; Part II. Conrad's Debt to French Authors: 2. The early fiction; 3. The first phase of maturity; 4. The second phase of maturity; 5. The third phase of maturity and the last decade; 6. Critical writings; Part III. Conrad's Philosophical and Aesthetil#n