Joseph Conrad was an English writer of Polish origin and though he wrote his works in English he always considered himself a Pole. His stories often have nautical setting which is a typical feature of adventure stories. A symbolic meaning can be found in this idea: the author traces the fates of people in the indifferent and strange world. Even though his writing style may possess some elements of romanticism he is cosidered as a representetive of modernism. His works have been made into a number of films.
'Tales Of Hearsay' is a collection book by Joseph Conrad which includes four short-stories: 'The Warrior's Soul', 'Prince Roman', 'The Tale', and 'The Black Mate'. The stories in this collection book are united as they are all set during the same period of time — The Napoleonic Wars and their main characters are military men.