Polskie spory o Conrada w latach 1897–1945

The goal of this article is to present the critical reception of the biography and works of Joseph Conrad in Poland in 1897–1945. Special emphasis is put on the political, social, cultural and aesthetic factors conditioning this process. The reception originated in the era of partitions, whereas Conrad’s relative popularity among the intellectual and artistic elite started only in the interwar period. A special role in promotion of Conrad was played by Stefan Żeromski and the poets associated with the “Skamander” group. In later years, Conrad became the object of fascination of many representatives of the generation of 1910, who were highly infl uenced by Józef Ujejski, author of the monograph O Konradzie Korzeniowskim [On Konrad Korzeniowski]. Conrad’s works played a special role during World War II – they provided moral support to many people struggling against the Nazi and Stalinis