Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

[anteros_lmc]

Forester, C.S., (1951), Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, The Reprint Society, London.

Well I've done it, I've finally read some CS Forester. I finished Mr. Midshipman Hornblower last night.

Comments

[ioanite]

Do boats really have a "colour scheme"? Well, do they?

Apparently so. My "Making of Horatio Hornblower" book has this interesting tidbit

[anteros_lmc]

Yet even in the nineteenth century, there were captains who paid for their officer's uniforms and dressed them as they liked. As late as 1820, the Captain of HMS Harlequin dressed his crew up as...harlequins."
I knew about the evolution of naval uniform but that's just bizarre! Definitely a fic in there, as you say.

Also, I had a) watched the miniseries about five times
Only five? ;) I certainly have a strong impression of many of the characters not only from the series but from a wide range of fic, including bookverse, that I've read over the last six months.

I can fully understand your reluctance to finish The Dutchess and the Devil if you read this book last. Several other people have mentioned deliberately leaving one story unread as they can't bear to finish the series.

Thanks for sharing your memories. I'm now off to bed to dream of Horatio as Harlequin (and Archie as Columbine?!) :D

[black_hound]

Captains did have a color scheme. The captain's gig and crew were outfitted by him in the colors of his choice.

I gotta say that I found MMH a bit ... dry and not so much to my taste. Outside of Pellew in his PINK NIGHTCAP OMG, and the whole insanely depressive suicidal HH. MMH and HH's depressive personality though is a really good setup for LtH and the appearance of MR BUSH. And YO watch how things change. ;) XD

[anteros_lmc]

The captain's gig and crew were outfitted by him in the colors of his choice.
I suppose we should all be grateful that Pellew didn't coordinate his crew with his nightcap ;) TBH it was the use of the term "colour scheme" that struck me as rather incongruous. If he'd said livery or uniform I wouldn't have batted an eyelid.

the whole insanely depressive suicidal HH
Archie would never have let him get away with all that moping. Sorry, I'll fetch my coat... ;)

the appearance of MR BUSH. And YO watch how things change
Four chapters in to LtH and things are fair hotting up! I was on the edge of my seat on the underground this morning. So far Mr Bush is definitely showing more signs of personality than Mr Hornblower!

[sarlania]

CSF has an extremely wry, almost unnoticeable style of humour. The repetitive "hell" bit reminds me of a passage in a later book where HH is almost jumping on the deck furious with anger. XD

Ahhhhh Pellew...... how I adore him.

[anteros_lmc]

CSF has an extremely wry, almost unnoticeable style of humour.
I finally came to that conclusion but it took me a while!

reminds me of a passage in a later book where HH is almost jumping on the deck
The bit you remember follows directly on from the lines I quoted:

"He was dancing with rage, he observed with some curiosity. But with his fighting madness at the boil there was no chance of his yielding without a struggle, and his mental convulsions resulted in his producing a scheme for action. "

[esmerelda_t]

That's really interesting about the colour schemes, and I can see Horatio (who I've always seen as a bit of a fashionista)delighting in picking his out. Archie (who I have arbitrarily decided has no fashion sense whatsoever) would be no help beyond suggesting it all be done in Kennedy tartan. Horatio would decline the offer.

Love the thing about the Harlequins though!

The book, yes, well you know what I think. :P

[anteros_lmc]

Horatio (who I've always seen as a bit of a fashionista).....Archie (who I have arbitrarily decided has no fashion sense whatsoever)
No _way_ I can imagine Horatio believing himself to be quite dapper but with no senses of fashion at all. Archie however has effortless style. After all, tartan never goes out of fashion ;)

The book, yes, well you know what I think. :P
I do indeed, and I'm inclined to agree with you by and large ;)

[esmerelda_t]

Nonsense! Horatio is a man who knows the importance of buckles

Archie I imagine is quite the expert on breeches, but he's more interested in what's in them I suspect. I suspect Archie has one of those tartan hats, with the fake red hair attached.

[anteros_lmc]

Horatio is a man who knows the importance of buckles
Look, we were talking about fashion, lets leave Horatio's fetishes out of this!

Archie I imagine is quite the expert on breeches, but he's more interested in what's in them
Rubbish! He merely appreciates fine tailoring....

I suspect Archie has one of those tartan hats, with the fake red hair attached.
Of course he does! He's Scottish isn't he? ;)

[mylodon]

When you start reading O'Brian you'll find how he makes lovely use of ships' boats colour schemes to suggest aspects of the captain's personality.

[anteros_lmc]

Gosh who'd have thought interior decor was so fundamental to naval literature? I've just got my head round the nautical terminology now I shall have to brush up on colour schemes and soft furnishings.

I shall look forward to reading O'Brian, although partner has made off with the O'Brian books he bought me for Christmas. Tsk!

[black_hound]

You will find the ULTIMATE in soft furnishings courtesy of CSF in "Hornblower and the Hotspur" aka The Honeymoon Hotel.

CSF = fangirl

[anteros_lmc]

You will find the ULTIMATE in soft furnishings courtesy of CSF in "Hornblower and the Hotspur"
This could be good timing. I have to move house soon, perhaps I can pick up some decorating tips?

aka The Honeymoon Hotel.
Don't tell me Bush and Hornblower wear pink nightcaps too??!

CSF = fangirl
You may have a point... ;)