Empire 306. Joseph Conrad: From Russian Exile To The Heart of Darkness
Maya Jasanoff, a historian and author of The Dawn Watch, dives into the life of Joseph Conrad, a Polish sailor turned literary giant. She discusses his dramatic childhood, marked by exile in Russia and the loss of his parents. The podcast explores Conrad's journey into seafaring, his struggles with mental health, and the brutal realities of the Congo that influenced his writing. Jasanoff also addresses contemporary relevancy, debating whether we should judge Conrad by today's standards, while emphasizing the importance of engaging with complex ideas in literature.
01:00:29
Congo Voyage That Sparked Heart Of Darkness
- Conrad signed up with a Belgian shipping company and sailed to the Congo after the previous man in the post was killed.
- That voyage inspired The Heart of Darkness and shaped his view of imperial brutality.
Transnational Origin Shaped His Critique
- Conrad's multinational background shaped a distinct vision of empire different from contemporaries like Kipling.
- His Polish origins and seafaring life let him critique imperialism from a transnational vantage point.
Family Exiled After Father's Arrest
- Russian police arrested Conrad's father for underground patriotic activity and sent him to the Citadel in Warsaw.
- The family was exiled deeper into Russia, a traumatic childhood event for the young Conrad.
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Intro
00:00 • 1min
Why study Joseph Conrad now?
01:19 • 6min
Conrad's Polish childhood and exile
07:03 • 8min
How did Conrad become rootless and go to sea?
14:50 • 2min
Conrad's suicide attempt and lifelong depression
17:20 • 3min
Why Britain and mastering English mattered
20:41 • 4min
Discovering immigrant London and its freedoms
24:31 • 2min
Conrad's maritime career and sailing culture
26:55 • 8min
Where did Conrad sail and why it matters?
35:18 • 1min
How did Conrad end up in the Congo?
36:45 • 2min
What was King Leopold's Congo like?
38:18 • 6min
How did Congo affect Conrad's mental state and writing?
43:56 • 2min
When did Conrad start writing seriously?
46:11 • 2min
What was Conrad's journal like?
48:09 • 30sec
How did Conrad settle in England and marry?
48:39 • 2min
Who were Conrad's literary friends and supporters?
50:39 • 2min
How did Conrad fit into literary transitions?
52:20 • 35sec
How did Conrad's career and reputation end?
52:55 • 2min
Is Conrad anti-imperial or racist?
55:02 • 3min
Why Conrad feels prescient today
58:14 • 1min
Should we judge writers by modern standards?
59:20 • 1min
Outro
01:00:22 • 1min
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Victory 45
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Al Murray
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The Dawn Watch
Joseph Conrad in a Global World
Joseph Conrad
Maya Jasanoff
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How did a Polish sailor become one of the greatest writers in the English language? Why were Conrad’s parents exiled to the harsh conditions of northern Russia? Should we continue to read The Heart of Darkness in spite of its outdated views?
Anita and William are joined by Maya Jasanoff, author of The Dawn Watch, to discuss the adventurous life of Joseph Conrad and how his work shaped readers' understanding of imperialism.
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