Joseph Conrad, (1857-1924) born Jozef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, was a Polish-born English novelist. Most of his works featured a nautical setting and depicted trials of the human spirit by the demands of duty and honor. Before he started writing, Conrad joined the French merchant marines and later joined the British navy. Some of his numerous works include, Heart of Darkness, The Arrow of Gold, The Secret Agent, An Outcast of the Islands, and Lord Jim.
In addition to many prize-winning and bestselling novels, JOYCE CAROL OATES is the author of a number of works of award-winning gothic fiction. In 1994, Oates received the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award in Horror Fiction. She lives in Princeton, New Jersey.
