Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski; December 3, 1857 – August 3, 1924) was a Polish-born British novelist. Conrad is often regarded as one of the greatest novelists in the English language, which was not his first language, having acquired it in his twenties. His narrative style and anti-heroic characters have influenced numerous authors and he is considered an early modernist. Though Conrad's work was essentially a reflection of the era's colonialism and the British Empire's expansion, he exposed the underlying anxiety and moral ambiguity of such endeavors. 'Within the Tides: Tales' consists of four stories—'The Planter of Malata,' 'The Partner,' 'The Inn of the Two Witches,' and 'Because of the Dollars.' Each tale explores themes of betrayal, isolation, and the impact of external forces on personal integrity, which are recurrent elements in Conrad's larger body of work. His most famous novels, including 'Heart of Darkness' (1899), 'Lord Jim' (1900), and 'Nostromo' (1904), delve deep into the complexities of the human psyche and the ambiguities of morality, often set against the backdrop of exotic locations at times of socio-political unrest. Conrad's masterful use of English, despite being his third language after Polish and French, his rich, evocative prose, along with his deep insight into the human condition, continues to captivate readers and scholars alike.