142. Joseph Conrad: Hearts of Kindness

In 1923, Joseph Conrad wrote the foreword for Britain’s Life-Boats: The Story of a Century of Heroic Service. Toby Harper shares the author’s thoughts

The author Joseph Conrad’s fascination with the sea began when he was just 13. Inspired by a book he’d read about the search for Sir John Franklin’s lost ships, Erebus and Terror, he spent 19 years in the merchant navy before turning to writing, often penning tales about the sea and those who sail on it. His travels gave rise to some of the stories and characters in books such as Nostromo and Heart of Darkness.

2024 marks 100 years since Conrad’s death. Not long before he died, he wrote the foreword for Britain’s Life-Boats: The Story of a Century of Heroic Service. In this episode, that foreword is read by Toby Harper.

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI   

Interview by the RNLI's Darren Crew

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls   

Thanks to Toby Harper for lending his voice to this episode

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200