A collection of three long stories, 'Twixt Land and Sea' explores the troubled life of young captains at sea. Mired by dire circumstances and moral dilemmas, Conrad’s characters are no longer consoled by the sea, and their psychological suffering is rendered in a memorable way. The most anthologized story in this collection, 'The Secret Sharer', is a perfect example of a Freudian narrative that discusses human weakness and sinfulness.

Joseph Conrad’s work went on to influence authors like George Orwell, John le Carré and F. Scott Fitzgerald

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was a Polish-born author who left Poland in his teens to avoid enlistment in the Russian Army. He learned English aboard British ships and started writing in the language after settling in the UK. His most famous novel is ‘Heart of Darkness’ (1899), which was inspired by his experiences on the open sea.