#the aubreyad

[bomberqueen17]

liveblogging the Aubreyad: a snippet from book 4

This is a long snippet that is totally incidental to the plot and does nothing but advance our knowledge of several characters, so of course I could not resist it. Mostly it is an excellent example of what a fucking troll Stephen is.

context: McAdam is the ship's surgeon on a vessel called Nereide, upon which Stephen is being transported to do some intelligence-work. McAdam is another Irishman, from Ulster, and a physician also, of high reputation but fallen on hard times-- his specialty is diseases of the mind, and he remains fascinated by psychological and psychiatric issues, but he himself is now deeply alcoholic to the point of frequent inability to function, though he maintains an unfortunate perspicacity in some matters that perhaps Stephen might wish he did not. He and Stephen do not really get along, and in fact the previous night he had upset Stephen severely. Stephen's good humor, severely tried by recent events, has been restored because he has just been summoned on deck by Nereide's solicitous captain, who is aware that Stephen is a passionate naturalist, to witness a mermaid, who was floating next to the ship as it passed.

McAdam looked singularly unappetizing in the morning light, ill-conditioned and surly: apprehensive too, for he had some confused recollection of harsh words having passed the night before. But, having beheld the mermaid, Stephen was in charity with all men, and he called out, "You missed the mermaid, my dear colleague; but perhaps, if we sit quietly here, we may see another." "I did not," said McAdam, "I saw the brute out of the quarter-gallery scuttle; and it was only a manatee." Stephen mused for a while, and then he said, "A dugong, surely. The dentition of the dugong is quite distinct from that of the manatee: the manatee, as I recall, has no incisors. Furthermore, the whole breadth of Africa separates their respective realms." "Manatee or dugong, 'tis all one," said McAdam. "As far as my studies are concerned, the brute is of consequence only in that it is the perfect illustration of the strength, the irresistible strength, of suggestion. Have you been listening to their gab, down there in the waist?" "Not I," said Stephen. There had been much talk among the men working just out of sight forward of the quarterdeck rail, cross, contentious talk; but the Nereide was always a surprisingly chatty ship, and apart from putting this outburst down to vexation at their late arrival, he had not attended to it. "They seem displeased, however," he added. "Of course they are displeased: everyone knows the ill-luck a mermaid brings. But that is not the point. Listen now, will you? That is John Matthews, a truthful, sober, well-judging man; and the other is old Lemon, was bred a lawyer's clerk, and understands evidence." Stephen listened, sorted out the voices, caught the thread of the argument: the dispute between Matthews and Lemon, the spokesmen of two rival factions, turned upon the question of whether the mermaid had held a comb in her hand or a glass. "They saw the flash of that wet flipper," said McAdam, and have translated it, with total Gospel-oath conviction, into one or other of these objects. Matthews offers to fight Lemon and any two of his followers over a chest in support of his belief.” “Men have gone to the stake for less," said Stephen: and walking forward to the rail he called down, "You are both of you out entirely: it was a hairbrush." Dead silence in the waist. The seamen looked at one another doubtfully, and moved quietly away among the boats on the booms with many a backward glance, thoroughly disturbed by this new element.

[softly-and-suddenly]

I’ve folded to the pressure (from myself) and started reading Master and Commander. I’ve never seen the movie or anything so I went into it blind, and it slapped me in the face by instantaneously being one of the most charming books I’ve ever read.

The first thing that happens in the book is Jack Aubrey, a naval officer, is enjoying a concert so much that he starts tapping along to the beat. Some random guy next to him tells him to shut up and they almost get into an altercation over it. The next day, Jack gets made a captain and he is so over the moon about it that when he runs into that guy on the street, he apologizes and takes him to lunch. They become best friends within maybe an hour, and Jack asks him to join his crew as their surgeon after having known him less time than it takes to cook a turkey. It’s incredible. Patrick O’Brian you are a gentleman and a scholar

[neosatsuma]

my favorite thing on earth is when he gets crabby about nautical nonsense he's my SPECIALEST little creature

[tatzelwyrm]

sorry we trapped your boyfriend in the year 1812. yeah he’ll have to do adventures for probably 3 years worth of 1812.

[beamorgan]

THE NOISE I JUST MADE

[squashfolded]

[maturiin]

save me boccherini sonata for violin and cello in d major: ii, vivace

[heathcliffgirl1847]

[jadetuin]

Never forgetting the fact that Stephen Maturin is my 78-year-old grandfather's blorbo. He's read ALL but one of the Aubreyad. The movie adaptation is one of his, if not his most, favorite movies of all time. Whenever he brings it up, he talks about how Maturin is "the most interesting character in all of fiction" and lists stuff about the man that he finds interesting - HE DOES NOT USUALLY GO ON RANTS LIKE THIS. The highest praise I have ever heard from him has been for Dr. Stephen Maturin and I think it's hilarious

[italianlegolas]

incomplete collection of jack lighting up when he sees stephen

[mystery-star]

Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Stephen Maturin in Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World (2003)

[neosatsuma]

I love them so much

[andruillus]

had to get them out of my system

[beamorgan]

I am HOWLING

('Rears and vices' refers to rear admirals and vice admirals. Also butts and sins)

('Penetration' is another word for thorough understanding. Also... the other kind of penetration)

('Mens rea' refers to the mental state and intent of someone committing a crime. Also sounds like 'men's rear')

A hat trick of elegantly dirty jokes. Kudos POB

[fluentisonus]

one thing I love very much about the master & commander film is how much it loves the lines on the ship & is so willing and happy to show the sheer number of them, there are so many shots where this always leaves such an impression on me watching it. like just off the top of my head (apologies for the image quality I'm on my phone). ough:

[kraniumet]

*boards your ship/sloop with my mysterious past* Pray tell what are your thoughts on sodomy. Sodomy. Thoughts? Opinions on sodomy? Question: Is there any risk I'm getting flogged.