I got a whole set of these as presents. I loved the Hornblower novels and these look very entertaining from what I’ve skimmed through. I have a huge problem though: I’m simply not literate enough in 200-year old English to follow them well. Between the formal vocabulary of the late 18th century, Britishisms I’m unfamilar with and technical nautical terms, I’m missing a lot. Something as simple as “mean” meaning “stingy, cheap” rather than “cruel-minded” can utterly change the meaning of a conversation, and I get the impression I’m misunderstanding a lot like that. What can someone who wants to read early-19th century literature (or deliberate imitations thereof) do?
Here are a couple of links that may help you out:
The WikiPOBia, a Wiki for the books. Be warned, the articles may contain spoilers.
A Guide for the Perplexed, which translates all the non-english text found in the books.
For the nautical terms, Patrick O’Brian was smart enough to make one of the main characters a land-lubber (Steven Maturin). There are several places in the books where things are explained to him (and us). I’ve read through the series 3 or 4 times, and each time, I start understanding things better. There is also a book out called A Sea Of Words. I haven’t read it, but it’s written expressly for the Aubrey-Maturin series.
I love the Aubrey-Maturin books. You’re in for a treat. My main piece of advice would be to stick with it. Whenever I read 19th century literature (or literature written in that style), it takes me a hundred pages or so to get accustomed to the flow and the language. Once you do get used to it, it’s pretty easy to follow the rhythms and pick up nuances and meanings from the context.
(I’ll also confess to skipping a lot of the more detailed nautical descriptions. In my head, I just substitute: “Now they’re making the boat go.”)
This one won’t help with the O’Brian books, but for someone reading 19th-century literature:
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist-The Facts of Daily Life in Nineteenth-Century England. It’s a good general guide.
A Sea of Words is great for the nautical stuff, and Harbors and High Seas is a geographical guide with maps showing where the action takes place in each book.
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew might be helpful for information about the period.
For what it’s worth, I found the first book difficult to read, not only because of the nautical terminology, but because O’Brian’s prose style takes some getting used to. They got easier after that. Have fun, these are terrific books.
With these books, finding new word meanings is kinda like Easter Egg hunting. If you don’t find them all this time, there is always next year.
Those were my favorite parts. The parts I skipped was anytime anyone’s wife had any dialog.
“Something fascinating and nautical just happened but I have no idea what it is” can be said at any time with no penalty to reading enjoyment.
I usually skim over the parts when Jack is on the beach, because I do not care overly much about the problems he has with creditors and his mother-in-law.
The only stuff I skim over is some of the political machinations: when Stephen is onshore alone meeting secretly with some country’s independence movement, or exactly why it’s important to convince these particular islanders to love King George instead of the French.
It’s funny, isn’t it, what people take away from the books. I really dig the politics and domestic stuff, but unless it’s an exciting battle scene, I’m not into the exact mechanics of how they sailed. I think it’s proof of how good they are that there’s something there for everybody.
I love the novels, too. A Sea of Words (from Ebay) is indeed a great help.
Stephen: “They said it was on the larboard side.”
Jack: “That is starboard, Stephen.”
Stephen: “Is this not my left hand, for all love?”
Jack: “But you are facing aft.”
I don’t actually skip over stuff, but I do prefer nautical bits to Jack being retarded with money. The rest of the land bits I’m okay with, but I cringe mightily every time one of the sailors goes on shore. As for reference books, I can’t recommend Lobscouse and Spotted Dog enough. Not that there was TOO much cooking terminology I missed, but now I know the difference between Drowned Baby and Spotted Dog. Also, who DOESN’T need a recipe for Millers in Onion Sauce?
ETA: With the naval terms, I often just skip most of them, unless it’s really intriguing. You pick a lot of it up by osmosis, and the occasional foray into a dictionary will get the rest.
Not that you asked but here is an old thread full of favorite O’ Brian quotes.
By the 3rd or 4th time you read the series, it all makes sense.
The link’s not working, you infernal lubber!
I think I’m going to try these books. On paper (uh, you know what I mean) these don’t sound like “me.” But I’m irresistibly tempted.
Go for it. They are about friendship, the sea and love.
We all want to be Jack Aubrey, but we are really some pale version of Stephen Marturin.
I don’t recall a woman reader of O’Brian on the board. I should like to discuss Diana.
UncleRojelio’s link should be:
[Quotes]
(Favorite Patrick O'Brian line - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board). And now I’m tempted to raise the zombie and add some more.
I’d like to throttle Diana.
Argh! Posted as Left Hand by mistake. Real post is below!
And why is that?
Too late, she’s dead.