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Aboard HMS Surpirse, cruising Nootka Sound, circa 1812:
Stephen, (excited): "Jack, Jack! For all love, Jack, in the rigging - I
believe that is an Ancient Murrelet!"
Jack: " Why yes Stephen, to be sure he looks somewhat grizzled - can it be
et?"
Best series ever.
Jamie Simpson
On , Peter Payzant <pce@accesswave.ca> wrote:
> Let me second desolatechair's
> recommendation for the Aubrey/Maturin series. It is set during the
> Napoleonic wars and details the adventures and friendship of a
> consummate sailor (Jack Aubrey) and his friend, the penniless
> Irish surgeon Stephen Maturin. They get off to a bad start, almost
> having to fight a duel over Jack's behaviour at a concert in the
> governor's house in Minorca, but after that their friendship
> blossoms.
> Not only is the series great literature, but Maturin is a
> naturalist (as well as a surgeon and a spy). He has wonderful
> adventures with nature all over the world, including birds,
> insects, mammals and plants. In one episode, a sloth which he has
> brought aboard Jack's ship is pining a little because of the cold.
> Jack takes pity:
> The sloth sneezed, and looking up, Jack caught its
> gaze fixed upon him; its inverted face had an expression of
> anxiety and concern. 'Try a piece of this, old cock,' he said,
> dipping his cake in the grog and proffering the sop. 'It might
> put a little heart into you.' The sloth sighed, closed its
> eyes, but gently absorbed the piece, and sighed again.
> Some minutes later he felt a touch on his knee; the sloth had
> silently climbed down and it was standing there, its beady eyes
> looking up into his face, bright with expectation. More cake,
> more grog; growing confidence and esteem. After this, as soon
> as the drum had beat the retreat, the sloth would meet him,
> hurrying towards the door on its uneven legs: it was given its
> own bowl and would grip it with its claws, lowering its round
> face into it and pursing its lips to drink. Sometimes it went
> to sleep in this position, bowed over the emptiness.
> Later, Stephen is horrified to discover his sloth completely under
> the influence. He utters the deathless words, "Jack! You have
> debauched my sloth!"
> Peter Payzant
> On 2012-09-28 10:00 AM, desolatechair@gmail.com wrote:
> And for a definitive education on all things nautical
> in the great age of sail you can't do any better than the
> Aubrey/Maturin series by the late great Patrick O'Brian - part of
> which(The Surgeons Mate I believe) is set in Halifax. Outstanding
> read and perfect for long winter nights!
--e89a8f234cf550909204caeac957
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Aboard HMS Surpirse, cruising Nootka Sound, circa 1812:<br /><br /> Ste=
phen, (excited): "Jack, Jack! For all love, Jack, in the rigging - I =
believe that is an Ancient Murrelet!"<br /> <br /> Jack: "=
; Why yes Stephen, to be sure he looks somewhat grizzled - can it be et?&qu=
ot;<br /><br />Best series ever.<br /><br />Jamie Simpson<br /><br />On , P=
eter Payzant <pce@accesswave.ca> wrote:<br />> <br />> <br />=
> <br />> <br />> <br />> Let me second desolatecha=
ir's<br />> recommendation for the Aubrey/Maturin series. It i=
s set during the<br />> Napoleonic wars and details the adventures=
and friendship of a<br />> consummate sailor (Jack Aubrey) and hi=
s friend, the penniless<br />> Irish surgeon Stephen Maturin. They=
get off to a bad start, almost<br />> having to fight a duel over=
Jack's behaviour at a concert in the<br />> governor's ho=
use in Minorca, but after that their friendship<br />> blossoms. <=
br />> <br />> <br />> <br />> Not only is the seri=
es great literature, but Maturin is a<br />> naturalist (as well a=
s a surgeon and a spy). He has wonderful<br />> adventures with na=
ture all over the world, including birds,<br />> insects, mammals =
and plants. In one episode, a sloth which he has<br />> brought ab=
oard Jack's ship is pining a little because of the cold.<br />> =
Jack takes pity:<br />> <br />> <br />> <br />> T=
he sloth sneezed, and looking up, Jack caught its<br />> gaze fi=
xed upon him; its inverted face had an expression of<br />> anxi=
ety and concern. 'Try a piece of this, old cock,' he said,<br />>=
; dipping his cake in the grog and proffering the sop. 'It migh=
t<br />> put a little heart into you.'=A0 The sloth sighed, =
closed its<br />> eyes, but gently absorbed the piece, and sighe=
d again. <br />> <br />> <br />> <br />> Some m=
inutes later he felt a touch on his knee; the sloth had<br />> s=
ilently climbed down and it was standing there, its beady eyes<br />> =
looking up into his face, bright with expectation.=A0 More cake,<br /=
>> more grog; growing confidence and esteem.=A0 After this, as s=
oon<br />> as the drum had beat the retreat, the sloth would mee=
t him,<br />> hurrying towards the door on its uneven legs: it w=
as given its<br />> own bowl and would grip it with its claws, l=
owering its round<br />> face into it and pursing its lips to dr=
ink.=A0 Sometimes it went<br />> to sleep in this position, bowe=
d over the emptiness.<br />> <br />> <br />> Later, St=
ephen is horrified to discover his sloth completely under<br />> t=
he influence. He utters the deathless words, "Jack! You have<br />>=
debauched my sloth!"<br />> <br />> <br />> <br =
/>> Peter Payzant<br />> <br />> <br />> <br />>=
<br />> <br />> <br />> <br />> <br />> <=
br />> On 2012-09-28 10:00 AM, desolatechair@gmail.com wrote:<br /=
>> <br />> <br />> <br />> And for a definitive educati=
on on all things nautical<br />> in the great age of sail you can&=
#39;t do any better than the<br