Youth

"Youth" is an autobiographical short story by Joseph Conrad. Written in 1898, it was first published in Blackwood's Magazine, and included as the first story in the 1902 volume Youth, a Narrative, and Two Other Stories. This volume also includes Heart of Darkness and The End of the Tether, stories concerned with the themes of maturity and old age, respectively. "Youth" depicts a young man's first journey to the East. It is narrated by Charles Marlow who is also the narrator of Lord Jim and Chance. The narrator's introduction suggests this is the first time, chronologically, the character Marlow appears in Conrad's works (the Author comments that he thinks Marlow spells his name this way). Similar to Joseph Conrad's better-known Heart of Darkness, Youth begins with a narrator describing five men drinking claret around a mahogany table. They are all veterans of the merchant navy. The main character, Marlow, tells the story of his first voyage to the East as second mate on board the Judea. The story is set twenty-two years earlier, when Marlow was 20.

Joseph Conrad, born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski on December 3, 1857, in Berdyczów, Russian Empire (now Berdychiv, Ukraine), was a literary colossus of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Conrad's narrative style and anti-heroic characters have placed him as a forefather of modernist literature. His works often delve into the complexities of the human psyche and the ambiguities of moral righteousness. Conrad's experiences in the French and especially British merchant navies offered him a unique perspective on human nature, and this is evident in his writing. His novels often explore the struggles of man against the forces of nature as well as the human condition itself. 'Youth', a semi-autobiographical short story published in 1898, reflects Conrad's experiences at sea and is exemplary of his lyrical and sophisticated narrative style. It is in this narrative, alongside notable works such as 'Heart of Darkness' (1899) and 'Lord Jim' (1900), that Conrad's thematic concerns of betrayal, guilt, and existential angst are vividly brought to life. Conrad's ability to weave complex narratives with intricately developed characters has made his literature a staple in discussions of Western literature. His influence on the modernist novel is profound, with many later writers, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and T.S. Eliot, recognizing Conrad's significant impact on their own work. Conrad continued to write until his death on August 3, 1924, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with readers and scholars alike.