Molly's Lieutenant Innes

[anteros_lmc]

Earlier this summer while reading Michael Lewis’ Napoleon and his British Captives I was reminded of the lovely piece of detective work that joyful_molly did last year when she tracked down Lieutenant Thomas Innes whose snuff box appeared on the Antiques Roadshow. The pedigree of the snuff box is impressive, it was presented by French Admiral Compte de Grasse

Comments

[eglantine_br]

Huzzah. I love the real life stuff! My respect for the women of that time was already high. But it has climbed even more

[anteros_lmc]

Yes, yes, yes and yes. These women had to be phenomenally brave.

Tell me about the Garneray book. Wonder if I can get it on Kindle?
Don't even try. It's a very, very frustrating read. More on that tomorrow hopefully.

I recently downloaded and read the one about the guy who was arrested for the chamberpot caper. Delightful.
Yay! Edward Boys! Isn't he inspirational?! What a brave and principalled boy.

You know who it made me think of, of course. Brave boy.
Course I do. And at long last I have got him to talk to H about France. Expect more POW fic shortly.

Apologies for rushed and incoherent response, but wanted to reply before I turn in. More tomorrow.

[anteros_lmc]

Morning sweetie! You asked about Garneray, hopefully I'll get round to writing a proper review sometime but briefly, he makes for very, very frustrating reading. Despite passing off his account of years spent on the Portsmouth prison hulks as factual autobiography it's now known to be mostly fiction. In fact I'd say it's 40% fiction, 40% propaganda and 20% plagiarism. Garneray did spend time on at least one hulk but there is no record of him being present on two of the other hulks he mentions. Many of the incidents he records are plagiarised from other verifiable sources so these at least do paint a picture with some accuracy. However other incidents are either entirely fictionalised or did not take place in Britain at all. Many of his characters are invented and those that were real have become little more than caricatures. Worst of all though his writing style is woefully bathetic and over melodramatic. I don't know, maybe I've just spent too long reading the plain unembroidered POW accounts of men like Boys, O'Brien and

[shezzawatto]

Lovely read. Nice interlude (for me I mean - and perhaps for some of them). Puts so much into perspective.
And some more Anteros H/A fic soon - woohoo!

[anteros_lmc]

Glad you enjoyed! I'm completely fascinated by the contemporary accounts of these POWs. Their bravery and endurance was extraordinary.

And some more Anteros H/A fic soon - woohoo!
Don't hold your breath or you'll turn blue! I have had several fics on the go, but no time at all for fic writing. Real life is rather kicking my ass at the moment. I've had to resort to trying to write on the bus to work in the mornings!

[eglantine_br]

Just so grateful you have not given up. I will look forward to reading your fiction rather than the works of Mr Garnay!

I am looking at your icon there. I hope nobody in real life has the misfortune to ever cause JB to make that face!

[anteros_lmc]

Just so grateful you have not given up.
Oh don't say that, I couldn't give up on Archie and Horatio. I could weep for the lack of time though. I actually skipped my precious once weekly yoga class tonight just to write in peace for an hour.

I hope nobody in real life has the misfortune to ever cause JB to make that face!
Given that he is father to three small girls I should imagine that he makes that face rather a lot of the time! This face too though :)

[eglantine_br]

Yes, that could be a dad face-- happy but a little dazed!

[anteros_lmc]

ROLF XD Yup that's the one!

[joyful_molly]

Ah, that's fantastic! :-D I'll get back to this upon my return. You're definitely the Sherlock Holmes of AoS! :-D

[anteros_lmc]

You're definitely the Sherlock Holmes of AoS!
Nah, that's definitely nodbear. This is amateur detective work by her standards! Fun though :) Hope you have a lovely holiday!

[nodbear]

Thank you anteros_lmc ! I am not in Holmes' league really - though he wsa never faced with Naval archives I don't think - just missing submarine plans :)

this is another of your grand real life pieces - and inspires me to get off my backside and psot something - at least fairly soon I hope!

will give this another read to appreciate it moer when less sleepty tham at the moment !

[anteros_lmc]

No need to feel guilty! I wrote this way back in June, it's taken me three months to post it and I haven't written any "proper" history since :}