I’ve been joining in Sheila’s First Book of the Year for many years now. It has become one of my bookish traditions.
As from the 1st January 2021, I will be reading Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian. This is a reread so that I can join in Nick’s #AubreyMaturinReadalong over the next four years. If you’re unsure if you want to tackle such a long commitment or are put off by the nautical terminology, please see Nick’s preparatory post for encouragement.
Personally, I let the nautical stuff wash over me during my first read. By the end of the series though, I was more familiar and comfortable with the terminology. I was also constantly fascinated to learn that many of our regularly used adages began on board ships. The illustration at the beginning of each book, listing the various sails of a square-rigged ship, helped as well.
Curiously, this knowledge has served me well in other reading adventures – including Moby-Dick and more recently Ernestine Hill’s, My Love Must Wait. I even recognised some of the same ships that Jack talks about throughout the series as being real-life ships that Matthew Flinders sailed in. The early exploits of HMS Bellerophon (1786) under Thomas Pasley, were much discussed by Flinders, so I was delighted to see that Jack spies a group of Bellerophon’s seamen (Billy Ruffian’s) parading about town on leave in Port Mahon, early in chapter one.
This time around, I hope to explore some of these terms a little more, especially the ones that strike a chord with me for some reason or another. I’m also planning on sourcing some of Aubrey and Stephen’s favourite classical pieces.
My copy of M&C is inscribed with my name and dated 2nd January 2004, Mudgee. The movie starring Russell Crowe and directed by Peter Weir, had been released Nov 2003. I suspect that purchase of the book was a result of watching the movie at the lovely old local cinema in Mudgee on either New Year’s Day or the 2nd.
And so began my love affair with Jack and Stephen. I read all 20 books in the series over the next few years, plus the half-finished twenty-first book, The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey.
Although, my book club was NOT reading along with me, when I finished the last book, they celebrated the event by hosting a nautically themed meeting, complete with a pirate’s chest full of treasure!
When asked why I read all 21 books (and why I’m considering rereading them all again now), it’s because of Jack & Stephen. Their friendship is one of the most enduring and beautifully wrought examples of male bonding in literature. From their shared interest of classical music, they discover, aboard various ships, in very small and intimate spaces, how to be friends. Friends who accept each other for who they are, knowing each others foibles and failings as well as their strengths. For Jack, as a new-made Captain, suddenly realising he is no longer one of the boys, but a ‘them’, aloof, on his own at the helm, having a friend who is a physician (NOT a surgeon) allows him the luxury of one equal on board often very long and lonely voyages) that he can talk with in a relaxed way and not always be Captain Jack.
Like all series, some of the stories are stronger than others. O’Brian was obviously under pressure to keep the books coming, and sometimes that resulted in a less than satisfactory reading experience.
I’ve now completed chapter one of Master and Commander (1993) with much delight. To picture Port Mahon, Minorca better (the Spanish island where Jack and Stephen meet for the very first time, at a music recital), I googled and found this lovely post from Trail of the Immortal Memory, with photos of the main scenes from this chapter. I love being able to picture where Jack stood, at the top of the Pigtail Steps, looking down on the harbour, trying to spot his new command, the Sophie, for the first time.
I wasn’t sure if I would make it all the way through the series again, but judging by my reaction to book one today, I’m in, for the long haul!
He saw and appreciated all he was meant to see. He was blind to the things he was not meant to see.
Happy New Year one and all. Here’s to a better, brighter and healthier 2021!
My previous First Book of the Year books:
This Reading Life 
Enjoy your choice!
Wishing you a happy and healthy new year!
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I’m just awake after a ‘strange New Year’s Eve’…and run head on to the first pun (play on words) of the new year:
“…let the nautical stuff wash over me during my first read” Ha!
Still mulling over this readalong…it is such a committment…we’ll see…#NeedCoffee first.
First book 2021 started under the bedcovers at 0045 am….couldn’t sleep while a few neighbors insisted to set off fireworks that were banned. Ban fireworks? It’s like stopping the eb and flow tides, impossible. So, co-winner Booker Prize 2019 “Girl, Woman, Other”…here we come! What’s the weather like in Aussie?
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If I continue with the series, you’ll need to batten down the hatches, as nautical puns & phrases flow think & fast. Also like how you joined in with ebb & flow 🤣
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make a list of nautical expressions…as you go!
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Well, I think you’re crazy, but you’re obviously enjoying yourself, so good luck to you (I can’t stand books without girls).
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I’ll have to balance out this male dominated world with lots of AWW titles. I’m really determined to read my own tbr this year & all those text classics patiently waiting their turn.
From memory, I best enjoyed the books that featured Jack’s burgeoning relationship with the woman who became his wife and Stephen’s disastrous love affairs.
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All I remember about the movie is FOUR hours with no women. And no I didn’t go and see it.
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I’m sensing you’re not a fan Bill 😀
The movie was just over 2hrs long and, yes, no women, (except for one scene when they are in South America briefly and some women row out to ship to sell fruit and meat and flirt) which was curious as most of the books do have women, significant to both Jack and Stephen. The movie also showed one moment, easy to miss, where Jack was writing a letter to his wife, Sophie.
Ultimately, though, they are a boys’ own adventure.
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i greatly enjoyed the series as well. i didn’t know there was a 1/2 finished volume, i’ll have to check that out… O’Brian was reputed to be a sort of reclusive, cranky type; but with all the writing he did, he could hardly be anything else… i’ve mulled over rereading the canon, but so far i’ve found to many other interesting books… Happy New Year to you and yours! I was going to ask if you’ve read the Hornblower books: they’re what got me started; Conrad also…
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The ‘too many other interesting books’ is my main concern about embarking on this 20 book series again.
No I haven’t read Hornblower, but, naturally, I’ve seen the series with Ioan Gruffudd (swoon) and I read Lord Jim many years ago.
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My father loved this series and read them all. I tried one, but found it was not for me.
And that’s the wonderful thing about reading, there’s always a reader for every book!
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All the nautical stuff can be rather trying at times, but I find them curiously comforting.
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Wow this sounds like a great way to start the year reading wise! I remember seeing the movie adaptation but I have not tried the books yet. I love nautical themes though so it’d probably be a good fit!
Congrats on the new blog by the way!!!
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Thanks Greg, still getting used to where everything is. On blogger I didn’t have to think about what I had to do create a new post or format. I knew exactly where every feature was. It will just take time and more practice for that to happen here.
It is a commitment to read all 20 Master & Commander books but if you’re into nautical themes and if you loved Horatio Hornblower, then you’ll love this too!
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I started the new year with Chronicles of Narnia
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What a lovely way to start a new year! Say hi to Aslan for me 🙂
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