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.
