In 1894, aged 36, Conrad reluctantly gave up the sea, partly because of poor health, partly due to unavailability of ships, and partly because he had become so fascinated with writing that he had decided on a literary career. Almayer's Folly, set on the east coast of Borneo, was published in 1895. Its appearance marked his first use of the pen name "Joseph Conrad"; "Konrad" was, of course, the third of his Polish given names, but his use of it—in the anglicised version, "Conrad"—may also have been an homage to the Polish Romantic poet Adam Mickiewicz's patriotic narrative poem, Konrad Wallenrod.
In 1894 aged 36 Conrad reluctantly gave up the sea partly because of poor health partly due to unavailability of ships and partly because he had become so fascinated with writing that he had decided on a literary career Almayer's Folly set on the east coast of Borneo was published in 1895 Its appearance marked his first use of the pen name "Joseph Conrad"; "Konrad" was of course the third of his Polish given names but his use of it—in the anglicised version "Conrad"—may also have been an homage to the Polish Romantic poet Adam Mickiewicz's patriotic narrative poem Konrad Wallenrod