Jane Austen discussion

The discussion continues--

This seems to be a point of many struggles and problems in the story and the most interesting action of the story in -- Chap 11, the capture of the Fanciulla.

In chapter 9 though is an example that some of story seems too fabricated. It seems hard to believe that Admiral Harte would not believe Jack that the Bellone sank. Did the commanders or captains have to show proof of that sort of thing? Also, I love how the existence of this creates drama ahead, but Harte must had been a silly leader to send a ship back out that would probably fall apart -- and it did.

And so Jack and Stephen will fight a dual, but don't.

And Stephen then reports the mutiny to Jack.

This section of the book really brings the unhappiness of everyone to a peak and then the story begins to turn after this.

Sarah wrote: "This seems to be a point of many struggles and problems in the story and the most interesting action of the story in -- Chap 11, the capture of the Fanciulla.

In chapter 9 though is an example tha..."

Admiral Harte is a jerk, plain and simple! He will endeavor to thwart Jack at every turn because of Jack's prior dalliance with his wife, Molly, at Port Mahon in Minorca (see Master and Commander). Back in the day of 'Nelson's Navy,' the senior officer always had the last word.

Now do you see what I meant about Jack and Stephen's relationship? They still have some issues to sort out, don't they?

Being Irish (and understanding oppression at the hands of the English), Stephen is very reluctant to ever 'rat' anybody out; so, telling Jack about the impending mutiny was a very significant moral issue for him.

Getting pretty good, huh?

It still seems that Harte was risking a whole ship rather than just thwarting a commander he disliked. Basically that sunken ship is all on him, but I guess his personal vendetta outweighed that in his thinking.

My original viewpoint still stands regarding the men's friendship because I had already practically finished the book before I even made the statement about their being best friends. I am sure they have all kinds of issues including the glaring one of Diana, but their friendship may stand even as their issues remain. We will agree to disagree? until a later volume of the series changes my mind? ;o

Yes, it is very good reading and I may have to put the series aside for a while after this book (to get to other things), but I certainly recommend it.

Chris, I can probably tour your GR shelves to see, but what do you think of OBrian's other novels? I found one that says it is an earlier one than this series -- it is The Unknown Shore.

Sarah wrote: "It still seems that Harte was risking a whole ship rather than just thwarting a commander he disliked. Basically that sunken ship is all on him, but I guess his personal vendetta outweighed that in..."

I hope you realize that I agree with your assessment about their relationship; but it was my contention that it hadn't reached that level yet in this novel.

Sorry I was missing your point until now Chris. I'm glad to be caught up now.

Christopher wrote: "Sarah wrote: "This seems to be a point of many struggles and problems in the story and the most interesting action of the story in -- Chap 11, the capture of the Fanciulla.

In chapter 9 though is ..."

I agree - Admiral Harte is large jerk. And poor Jack - it is almost as if he didn't think/see how his behavior would impact him later on. (My husband was an army officer and I was the "dependent spouse" for quite a few years and I know first hand that the military is a teeny tiny little community where there are really no secrets in the long run).

Jack and Stephen are interesting as each possesses characteristics the other doesn't have and in some unconscious manner they understand that and they seem to feed off of that.