Master and Commander

[Magwitch]

I am a few chapters in to this book and struggling…..

I really want to like it because it was recommended to me by someone close, whose literary tastes are usually very similar to mine.

I am enjoying the characters very much and can see interesting developments being laid down but the nautical terminology and descriptions is putting me off. I am getting tired of all the sails, ropes, masts, poops, swabbing and grogging* etc. and am shamelessly skipping large sections of text.

Can anyone persuade me to persevere?


* It is fascinating, however, to learn just how many common expressions have nautical origins. This (http://www.fortogden.com/nauticalterms.html) is an informative site. I’d always wondered where the term ‘slush fund’ came from....

[Darkstar]

I think the Aubrey/Maturin novels are brilliant. They are fantastically well researched historical novels, with excellent characterisation. I must admit I find some of the nautical happenings a tad tedious, but stick with them - they are a wonderful portrait of a friendship. They become a lot more interesting once you start to find out a bit more about Maturin.

[Magwitch]

Thanks, Darkstar. I am persevering (despite distraction of latest Granta edition) and will continue to do so because I am already drawn to the characters. On the one hand I quite like being bathed in this wash of seafaring language; it's like reading as a child when you're not quite sure what a word means but you guess from the context, and it just conjures up a vision. On the other hand, I just wish that Mr O'Brian had taken Tolstoy's example and clearly defined his 'war' from his 'peace' so that I could skim-read vast sections knowing that the essence (ok, my essence) of the story would be (relatively) unaffected.

[Darkstar]

I think the language is one of the greatest things about these novels. Every character uses language that is appropriate to their occupation, social class, age etc. That is so hard to get right.

I've only read the first six, so far and I'll probably read another four or five this year. I want to take my time with these. :rolleyes:

[Magwitch]

Yes, that's another reason why I want to engage with this book - the thought that there are another 20 (or more?) waiting to be read is just wonderful!