Conrad, Joseph

20 pages (7 x 4 1/4 in; 178 x 108 mm and 8 x 10 in; 203 x 254 mm), Genoa, Italy and North Ashford, England, 24 October 1914 - 24 August 1917; Minor stains, browning, and fold lines, water damage to verso of one letter.

Minor stains, browning, and fold lines, water damage to verso of one letter.
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Unpublished correspondence from Joseph Conrad to his American publisher Frank Nelson Doubleday regarding wartime tragedies and professional successes.

“Conrad is only a detail in a great publishing scheme-- but pray remember that these pages in which you find some merit are absolutely all I have in the world, spiritually and materially. You will understand my anxiety as to their fate.” Joseph Conrad, 1914.

After a fifteen years of success in Europe, Joseph Conrad was picked up by American publisher and founder of Doubleday, Page & Co, Frank Nelson “Effendi” Doubleday. After Doubleday drafted Conrad into his bullpen of exceptional authors in 1913, the firm would go on to play a major role in establishing Conrad's success in the American markets, largely due to a series of rigorous publicity campaigns orchestrated by Doubleday. Doubleday was both patron and friend to Conrad as he gained popularity in the US, although the frequency of Conrad's releases was affected by the outbreak of WWI, as divulged in this correspondence. Just as Doubleday and Conrad began discussing the imminent publication of Victory, Conrad decided to take a family vacation to his homeland of Poland. Unfortunately, the Family Conrad was forced to flee due to the outbreak of the War and were unable to make safe passage back to England. Conrad, without access to funds and becoming increasingly desperate, wrote to Doubleday from purgatory in Genoa, Italy, begging for money so that he and his family might make it safely home. He was quite jarred by the incident: “My mind at present is so unsettled that it seems as if I could never write a line of fiction any more. But this will pass- and even a great European tragedy troubling our hearts and consciences must pass away and become a memory-a memory or a nightmare.”

Thankfully, Doubleday lent Conrad the funds and made the investment back in no time.  In April 1915, Conrad writes to thank Doubleday for the good news about the sales of Victory in the US. Conrad then introduces the title of his next work, a short story called "Rescue," which he promises will be done by the end of the month. Feeling the pressure from Doubleday, Conrad informs his publisher that the work will not be ready for publication until 1916: “You must not, my dear sir, expect a ‘great output’ from me. In the whole of my writing life I haven’t averaged a vol a year.” The professional relationship between Conrad and Doubleday soon blossomed into a friendship, and most of the present letters focus on the effects of WWI on England and on Conrad himself. In the fall of 1915, Doubleday sends the kind gesture of custom eyeglasses for Borys, Conrad’s son who was then serving as an officer in the British army. On November 5, 1915, with WWI in full swing, Conrad writes to thank Doubleday for the gift, referencing the death of the son of another of Doubleday's famous authors and friends, Rudyard Kipling:  “My wife and I are much touched by this proof of your kindly feelings for us and of your sympathy for the cause for which young Kipling has laid down his life- we fear we are much grieved- but I didn’t write to [Rudyard]. There is nothing adequate one can say. He can not doubt my feelings. So, why intrude with poor lame words on his proud hours of mourning, and on the inward bitterness of his sorrow.”

In May 1917, Conrad responds to a recent letter from Doubleday, "I was glad to get your letter, the first I received from you in the character not only of friend and publisher, but of an ally in the world struggle .... [America’s] grounds are rather abstract, whereas England and France are fighting simply for their lives and never had any doubt as to the moral values of the struggle ... but your men that will come presently into line will find themselves in a very strange, grim atmosphere, with no flavour of political or pacifist ideals in it at all. I am telling you openly what I think, as between you and me." 

Letters to Frank Nelson Doubleday from any of his esteemed authors are extremely scarce. According to ABPC, no others from Conrad to Doubleday have been sold at auction.