Talk:Joseph Conrad

Length?

This reads like an introductory essay, not an encyclopaedia article. As a reader I want general information and links to more, but I am forced to wade through so much detail. The structure seems OK, but it really needs focusing - maybe half the length (how many words is it now?) 178.147.93.11 (talk) 07:27, 10 August 2025 (UTC)

The page size tool says the article has 11,454 words in "readable prose". The editing guideline at Wikipedia:Article size#Size guideline suggests ab article of that size "probably should be divided or trimmed", so it is worth discussing what can be done to shorten the article. Do you have any specific recommendations as to what content should be deleted from the article or moved to a new article? Donald Albury 15:42, 10 August 2025 (UTC)

Just wanted to say that this article reads really well, at least as someone who enjoys the subject. I always disliked articles on authors which just list commercially famous works, highest honors, etc. It's important to reference literary importance, description of style, influences, relationship of author's life to their work. These are the real substance of any good article like this. But obviously this is too long for Wikipedia, I wish the person who wrote the bulk of this would write a biography! I'd read it. Maybe I already did...

I can take a crack at reducing the size while retaining the merit. Biggest targets are life and writing style. Also how important are these end notes really for a Wikipedia article? Never done a big article cut so I don't have a lot of confidence. Esobrev (talk) 18:46, 1 February 2026 (UTC)

Please note that splitting some of the content to a new article is an alternative to removing content. I suggest proposing specific edits here, either deletions or splits, and waiting a bit to see if anyone objects. While you can be be bold, removals of content from the article without prior discussion may be reverted by other editors, which would then require discussion (see Wikipedia:BOLD, revert, discuss cycle). Donald Albury 22:43, 1 February 2026 (UTC)

Reason I didn't mention splits is because of what I'd be splitting. I don't think there's precedent for a solitary "Life of Joseph Conrad" or "Style of Joseph Conrad" article. That's not really what we do here right? The only thing I've seen is a dedicated bibliography page. Esobrev (talk) 00:27, 2 February 2026 (UTC)

Wonderful article!

I came to this article looking for facts, and then read the entire text out of pure enjoyment. A beautiful article which succeeds very well in conveying the contradictions of Conrad's person and the richness of his work. Thanks for the excellent piece!

Unsolicited comment, 14 April 2023, by 84.212.81.79, restored by Nihil novi (talk) 06:11, 12 May 2026 (UTC)

Polish -English, NOT British

He wasn't British, the footnote clearly describes him as English, why is it wrongly British in the text? ~2026-31795-68 (talk) 23:19, 10 June 2026 (UTC)

Because the nationality is British. England is a constituent country of the nation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Donald Albury 00:21, 11 June 2026 (UTC)