Natasha Joukovsky: literature, capitalism, and Jane Austen.
Feb 2, 2025
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In this engaging discussion, Natasha Joukovsky, a novelist and consultant at Accenture, shares her unique perspective on blending literature with the corporate world. She reminisces about discovering Jane Austen's works at a young age and how they shaped her understanding of social dynamics. Natasha highlights the challenges artists face in navigating commerce and creativity, while also reflecting on the moral complexities found in modern literature. Her insights into Austen's characters reveal the layers of authenticity in their portrayals, connecting past and present societal dynamics.
Balancing a dual career in corporate consulting and novel writing demands effective prioritization, support, and the willingness to take time off for creativity.
Jane Austen's works serve as insightful reflections on social dynamics and morality, emphasizing the need for genuine storytelling over moralizing in contemporary literature.
Deep dives
Balancing Dual Careers
Balancing a corporate job and a writing career requires effective prioritization and support. The speaker emphasizes the importance of dedicating time to writing, with leaves of absence taken to focus on literary pursuits. A supportive partner plays a crucial role in this balance, allowing for shared parenting responsibilities. This approach illustrates the commitment to artistic integrity while managing the demands of a corporate environment.
Navigating Literary and Corporate Realms
The speaker notes that the corporate world often displays more interest in her literary work than the literary community shows towards her corporate role. This perspective highlights a disparity in how different professions perceive creative pursuits. Additionally, the potential anxieties colleagues may feel about being portrayed in fiction are addressed, with the speaker clarifying that her fiction is largely inspired by imagination rather than direct experiences. This dynamic reflects the often supportive nature of the corporate environment regarding artistic endeavors.
The Role of Austen in Modern Literature
Jane Austen's influence is underscored as vital in understanding social dynamics and status, and her works are presented as rich sources for exploring contemporary themes. The speaker identifies Austen as a deeply nuanced author who conveys moral complexities and societal critiques. This analysis extends into the speaker's current writing pursuits, which draw from these themes of status and morality. The dialogue reveals a blend of admiration for Austen and a desire to unpack her relevance in today's literary landscape.
Moral Philosophy in Literature
The conversation critiques the distinction between moral literature and moralizing literature, emphasizing that literature should convey truths without overtly moralizing. The speaker expresses concern over contemporary works that prioritize moral posturing over genuine storytelling, which can undermine the literary quality. Discussions about the implications of moral messages in literature, including references to prominent authors like Ayn Rand, are explored. The distinction between a writer's moral stance and the narrative itself is presented as a crucial consideration in literary analysis.
I was gripped by a. natasha joukovsky’snovelThe Portrait of a Mirror, which I went through in almost one sitting (life gets in the way, alas). And I am enjoying her series of analyses of Austen’s men. Natasha works at Accenture, so we talked about what is it like to be a novelist working in consulting, as well as discussing her love of Austen, which began when she was ten-years-old and her father read the novels aloud to her (at her insistence). Few novelists writing today have very much corporate experience and I was pleased to discuss these topics with Natasha. She has also come to Girardian conclusions prior to reading Girard. I am anticipating her next novel, which is about probability, very much. Here is her website. And her Substack, quite useless.
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