Joseph Conrad (December, 1857 - August, 1924) is regarded as one of the greatest novelists of the English language. He wrote stories and novels, many with a nautical setting, that depict trials of the human spirit in the midst of an impassive, inscrutable universe. His narrative style and anti-heroic characters have influenced many authors, including T.S. Eliot, William Faulkner, and Graham Greene. Many films have been adapted from, or inspired by, Conrad's works, including Francis Coppola's Apocalypse Now, which was inspired by Heart of Darkness.