Maya Jasanoff

While I'm not sure that I buy the author's notion of a "spirit of 1783," which posits a Second British Empire run on centralized hierarchy, paternalism for its subjects, and global reach, it is interesting to read a 360-degree examination of the potential fates of those people who made their bet on London and lost. Jasanoff's most important point is that she views the American War as a civil war, having less to do with rights and more to do with divergent views on empire and rolls from there. You can also view the period 1783-1814 as a period of limbo before the Anglo-American commercial and social relationship crystallizes. Also, while I don't know about anyone else, Sir Guy Carleton blandly explaining to an incredulous General Washington that, yes, those Free Blacks in New York who placed their trust in him are going to sail away with the rest of the British evacuation always brings a smirk to my face; while I consider myself a patriotic American, I also believe that those espousing the "Spirit of 1776" were protesting a bit too loudly.… (mehr)

The author remarks that Virginia Wolfe referred to Conrad as a writer for boys and young men. While that is clearly an oversimplification it is certainy true that his books contain an element of travel and adventure quite appealing to young men. It was as an 18 year old that I really became fascinated with Conrad so I certainly fell into Virginia Wolfe’s insight.
Now older than Conrad at the time of his death I found this book a great way to become more deeply acquainted with him. I learnied many things I had never suspected.
The book is quite readable - whle I have become more fascinated with history as I have aged it is always great when the histories have the freshness of todays news.… (mehr)

I learned a lot from this well researched and better written sort-of biography of Joseph Conrad. Jasanoff places Conrad's life in the context of his times, from Russian suppression of Polish nationalist movements to the machinations around building the Panama Canal to World War I. Where she can, she offers the historical and biographical contexts for Conrad's best know works, such as Nostromo and Lord Jim. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I learned a great deal. Best of all, I am rereading Conrad with a new perspective.… (mehr)