A Personal Record

A Personal Record is the second of two memoirs by Joseph Conrad. In it he narrates a number of episodes in his life, including his first introduction to the English language, his childhood in Poland, his experiences as a sailor in Marseilles and England, and the work on his debut novel Almayer’s Folly.

Originally serialized in the English Review from 1908 to 1909, the book was published under the title A Personal Record in 1912 with the addition of the “Familiar Preface.” The “Author’s Note” was added in 1919. The book was also published as Some Reminiscences.