Conrad's friendship with John Galsworthy, begun when both men had yet to make their way in the world of letters, was, according to his own account of it, one of the most sustained and happy of his life. In 1913, he paid tribute to it in terms that might best be characterized by the cliche word glowing: the greatest oldest friendship of my shore life--is with Mr John Galsworthy. We first saw each other on board the Torrens[.] He was [a] passenger in her. Nothing has ever for a moment obscured that friendship. My affection for him is profound and my obligations to him infinite. I have a sentime...
