Lucky Jack's Navy

Read a great post on Clive Davis's Blog, today, (courtesy of Nick's Blogroll) about the way which Nelson ran his Navy. Sounds a lot more like "Lucky" Jack Aubrey, than the other stuffed shirts of The Admiralty of the time:-
"Charles McGrath, in the NYT, applauds Roger Knight's new biography of Horatio Nelson: Sounds as if the Admiral also took a creative view of the rule book:Mr. Knight reminds us, among other things, that part of Nelson's genius was to surround himself with younger officers in the same mould, creating, in effect, a modern management style that delegated authority and encouraged initiative. It did not outlast him, sadly, and except for the monuments and the tchotchkes, Nelson's legacy quickly faded. In the Victorian navy, which became even more bureaucratic, more aristocratic and less tolerant of eccentricity, Nelson would have been a failure.”

This fitted in very nicely with my little knowledge of this period, much of which has been gleaned from the books of Patrick O'Brian, visiting the Royal Naval Dockyard at Portsmouth, and exploring the Internet.

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the first few of the Patrick O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin books, after their being recommended by Dr.Rob. The first of the series is Master & Commander, and is a good jumping in point to sample O'Brian's fayre.

I read the first three in the series, before getting distracted.

A quick review of M&C?

From memory, I recall enjoying this thoroughly. The book charts the progress of a young Naval Lieutenant, in the post-Nelson Royal Navy, and the relationship between him and his Ship's Surgeon (and Naval Spy), Stephen Maturin. Jack Aubrey is dashing, philandering, drinking and all in rollicking, whilst Dr. Maturin is intellectual, moral and secretive. The relationship between the two forms the cornerstone of the series.

The historical background is peerless. O'Brian really gets inside what life must have been like onboard a ship at the turn of the 18th century. His attention to detail, in the hierarchy of the ship's company, the rigging and sailing techniques, and the shore life of the characters is astounding.

The story pans out between some dramatic recreations of Naval battles, interspersed with several lulls in which the background to the actions and the times are explored. I particularly enjoyed the recreation of 1800's Port Mahon in Minorca, the then home of the British Fleet in the Med, as Kim and I had holidayed there recently. O'Brian's descriptions of the port really fitted how the town has developed today. Overall, a rollicking good read.