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Kaptajn Aubrey bliver sendt til Det Indiske Ocean for som eskadrechef at nedkæmpe de franske fregatter der generer sejladsen fra Indien. Han skal også forsøge at indtage de to franske øer, Mauritius og Reunion, og mange søslag og træfninger følger, og Aubrey vinder megen hæder.
A solid entry into the Aubrey-Maturin series, but I confess to becoming a bit nervous that this lauded series does not appear to be the adored favourite I hoped it would be. I do occasionally find myself in the mood for a Patrick O'Brian story – its unique mix of nautical jargon, erudite dialogue, slow pace and rich characterisation – and such is the weight of sail that the author lays down that, even when I am not in the mood, I can be made so.
Such was the case with The Mauritius Command, the least of the four Aubrey-Maturin books I have read so far. It dragged heavily in parts, particularly (and almost fatally) in its first half, and did not make up for it with any apparent purpose in its plot. Hewing strongly to the coastline of historical fact is part of O'Brian's appeal, but Mauritius took as its bill a real nautical campaign and stayed very close to it, with all the obvious problems that causes for the pace of the story and the space for the characters to breathe in.
That O'Brian does still entertain within these parameters, particularly towards the end, is to his credit, but there's so much warm-up for so little race. A sense of jeopardy is missing, even when the British squadron Captain Aubrey is commanding is fighting against the odds, and the book's battles on both sea and land fail to truly excite. They have their moments, and the book is very well-written, but The Mauritius Command occasionally seems to be struggling under the weight of itself. I've grown fond enough of the Aubrey-Maturin series to not only persevere, but to savour the books when I do find myself in the mood for them, but I wouldn't recommend this instalment for those more casual readers who just want a taste of salt and spray. ( )
El capitan Aubrey se convierte en un sedentario caballero apoltronado en la vida domestica. Pero cuando el Almirantazgo le propone arrebatar las islas de la Reunion y las Mauricio a los franceses, zarpa sin dudarlo junto con el doctor Maturin.
I learned that a Commodore is a post, not a position like Captain; so when the activity is completed, one goes back to being a captain. Also how frustrating it can be to prepare carefully for a battle, only to have it never happen because of behind-the-scenes negotiations. There is enough in the book that isn't about the technical terms of sailing to make it interesting to someone like me.
A quote I liked: ... The clock also came from Mapes, the most accurate clock in the county. 'A handsome clock it is too,' said Stephen. 'A regulator, I believe. Could it not be set a-going?' 'Oh, no sir,' said Mrs Williams with a pitying look. 'Was it set a-going, the works would instantly start to wear.' [p. 26] ( )
Plenty of reviews on this, so my summation for my future memory loss is: A good read, interesting sea adventure, a bit disappointing at the end and left me empty.
I wonder if my reaction to this one is because the author was staying as close as possible to the facts of an actual naval battle which took place in Mauritius? Therefore his characters had to conform somewhat to the facts instead of being the heroic figures I wanted them to be? Anyway, it was still a very interesting read. ( )
Oplysninger fra den engelske Almen VidenRedigér teksten, så den bliver dansk.
[None]
Tilegnelse
Oplysninger fra den engelske Almen VidenRedigér teksten, så den bliver dansk.
To Mary Renault, glauk' eis Athenas. [Note: the Greek phrase means 'owls to Athens', the Greek equivalent of 'coals to Newcastle'.]
Første ord
Oplysninger fra den engelske Almen VidenRedigér teksten, så den bliver dansk.
Sometimes the reader of a novel, particularly a novel set in another age, likes to know whether the events have any existence outside the author's mind, or whether, like the characters, they are quite imaginary.
Author's note.
Captain Aubrey of the Royal Navy lived in a part of Hampshire well supplied with sea-officers, some of whom had reached flag-rank in Rodney's day while others were still waiting for their first command.
Chapter one.
Patrick O'Brian, unlike other writers of naval fiction, often uses real ships as the basis for his plots.
Jack Aubrey's ships, by Brian Lavery.
Citater
Oplysninger fra den engelske Almen VidenRedigér teksten, så den bliver dansk.
A conquering race, in the place of that conquest, is rarely amiable; the conquerors pay less obviously than the conquered, but perhaps in time they pay even more heavily, in the loss of the humane qualities. Hard, arrogant, profit-seeking adventurers flock to the spoil, and the natives, though outwardly civil, contemplate them with a resentment mingled with contempt, while at the same time respecting the face of conquest -- acknowledging their greater strength. And to be divided between the two must lead to a strange confusion of sentiment. [139: Maturin, in his journal]
Once below and free of good mornings right and left, he went straight to sleep, with barely a pause between laying his long wet hair on the pillow and unconsciousness; and fast asleep he remained, in spite of the rumbling boots of a regiment of soldiers and the din inseparable from working the ship, until the faint tinkle of a teaspoon told some layer of his mind that coffee was ready. He sprang up, looked at the barometer, shook his head, dipped his face into a kid of tepid water, shaved, ate a hearty breakfast, and appeared on deck, fresh, pink, and ten years younger. [187: of Aubrey on the eve of battle]
Sidste ord
Oplysninger fra den engelske Almen VidenRedigér teksten, så den bliver dansk.
'...And to this, gentlemen,' – raising his glass – 'I will append a toast: let us all fill up to the brim, gunwhales under, and drink to England, home and beauty, and may Lucky Jack Aubrey reach 'em with fair winds and flowing sheets every mile of the way.'
Kaptajn Aubrey bliver sendt til Det Indiske Ocean for som eskadrechef at nedkæmpe de franske fregatter der generer sejladsen fra Indien. Han skal også forsøge at indtage de to franske øer, Mauritius og Reunion, og mange søslag og træfninger følger, og Aubrey vinder megen hæder.
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Such was the case with The Mauritius Command, the least of the four Aubrey-Maturin books I have read so far. It dragged heavily in parts, particularly (and almost fatally) in its first half, and did not make up for it with any apparent purpose in its plot. Hewing strongly to the coastline of historical fact is part of O'Brian's appeal, but Mauritius took as its bill a real nautical campaign and stayed very close to it, with all the obvious problems that causes for the pace of the story and the space for the characters to breathe in.
That O'Brian does still entertain within these parameters, particularly towards the end, is to his credit, but there's so much warm-up for so little race. A sense of jeopardy is missing, even when the British squadron Captain Aubrey is commanding is fighting against the odds, and the book's battles on both sea and land fail to truly excite. They have their moments, and the book is very well-written, but The Mauritius Command occasionally seems to be struggling under the weight of itself. I've grown fond enough of the Aubrey-Maturin series to not only persevere, but to savour the books when I do find myself in the mood for them, but I wouldn't recommend this instalment for those more casual readers who just want a taste of salt and spray. (