The complexity of Joseph Conrad was revealed by experts Laurence Davies and Linda Dryden in two presentations highlighting his connections with people and places in Scotland and his transnationalism engendered by his personal family history of displacement and the twenty years of traversing the oceans. It was fascinating to see images of the young Konradek on his horse in the territory of the Russian Empire in 1865 and then the elderly Joseph Conrad relaxing in his garden in Canterbury, Kent with a cousin in 1924. In between his life resulted in writings which have been recognized not only for the quality of his use of the English language but also for his commentary on issues at the time which resonate today, such as racism and slavery, inequality and globalization. These multiple aspects were drawn together by Nick Barley in a Q and A session. 160 years after his birth there is no doubt that the works of Joseph Conrad are reaching out to a new generation and to a wider audience.
On the night we welcomed 65 people to this free event at Augustine United Church. Starting at 6pm the main event concluded at 7.30pm but we then welcomed 20 guests for a reception, which closed at 8.45pm. We distributed leaflets advertising the new publication Conradology and we are now looking forward to Nick Barley successfully inviting Maya Jasanoff to the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2018 to promote her book “ The Dawn Watch”.
From left to right: Nick Barley, Sylwia Spooner, Duncan Milne, Linda Dryden, Krystyna Szumelukowa, Kate Simpson, Laurence Davies, Tom Bacciarelli, Iain McIntosh
Photo: Tom Duda/freshmintstudio.com