Conrad, Joseph

Novelist. FH claims that he spotted Conrad as a writer with the publication of his first novel, Almayer's Folly, which he gave to H. G. Wells to review. Wells 'praised him to the skies', giving some propulsion to Conrad's career.

FH met Conrad only once. He said later that he 'never rated him at all as highly as Wells did'. For his part Conrad said in respect of Oscar Wilde that he was 'out of sympathy with the writer over both his subject and more serious matters'. Conrad's ire may result from when FH wouldn't give him a job on the Saturday Review.