POLE OR JEW?

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18722, 19 June 1926, Page 13

POLE OR JEW?

CONRAD'S NATIONALITY.

The follci*-:n<} letter sent to the New York by one of Conrad's literacy executors, ought to end the discussion about his nationality. Sir,— To the Editor, the "New York Times." A copy of the New York "Times" Book Review, dated Dec. 27th, of last year, has come into my hands, and I notice a statement about Joseph Conrad's nationality, quoted from Mr Pennell's book, "The Adventures of an Illustrator," which requires to be refuted. As one of Conrad's executors and trustees, and as an intimate friend of his for many years, I venture, therefore, to state "the facts as they really arc. According to Mr Pcuucll, Conrad told him that he was born at Berditchev, in Littlo Russia, and that he was a Jew. It' is quito true that Conrad was born in Berditchev, either in the district or the town—then part of Russian Poland and now a short way over the border into Russia proper—but it is totally untrue that he was a Jew. There.was not one drop of Jewish blood in his veins. Mr Pcnnell's memory must be completely at fault on this matter. For generations back Conrad's family on both sides were purely Polish, apart from one ancestor, who was either French or Italian. Iu the New Republic (U.S.A.) of August 4th, 1918, will bo found a long letter from Conrad to a correspondent giving an account of his family, and saying in the most explicit terms, that he was not a Jew, as Mr Frank Harris, the writer, had apparently stated in some publication, I may be allowed, perhaps, to quoto a couple of paragraphs from this letter: "I imagine that Frank Harris called me a Jew in his publication as a manner of insult, and iu the hope of causing me extreme annoyance. But I don't feel annoyed in the least. Had I been an Israelite, I would nover have denied being a member of a race occupying such an unique place in the religious history of mankind. I send you this disclaimer Bimply in tho interest of truth." It seems a great pity that this fantastic story of Conrad's Jewish origin should, every now and then, bo started. It is utterly without foundation and devoid of truth. RICHARD CURLE. Loudon, England.