It is curious that Joseph Conrad, novels are now regarded as the greatest ever written English, was fact born in Poland, and English was his fourth language. Conrad, real name was Konrad Korzeniowski, grew a time when Poland was divided Russia, Germany and the Austro-Hugarian Empire. His father, had been a famous Polish patriot, died a a prisioner Russian hands, and Conrad was brought by his uncle. As the son of a political prisioner, he was liable 25 year´s military service in Russia, and so, the age of 17, he went to France, he joined the French merchant navy. Later, the realisation he could never become an officer caused him leave France. He arrived England knowing much English, nevertheless did not prevent him from rising to the rank of captain and eventually writing his great novels, many of are the sea.