Monthly Archives: August 2014

POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER ELEVEN

Posted on August 31, 2014 by spectioneer

The chapter starts with Stephen in the sick berth, sitting with a patient on the deciding line between life and death (nice parallel, that) and listening to the highly mutinous murmuring going on in the corners.  His patient most certainly … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER TEN

Posted on August 30, 2014 by spectioneer

Ashore.  At sea.  Ashore.  At sea.  There are some volumes of this series that are strictly sea-going, but this particular book has, I think, the greatest contrast between shore and sea than any of the rest. In this chapter, it … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER NINE

Posted on August 28, 2014 by spectioneer

“The Polychrest left her convoy in 38° 30′ N, 11° W., with the wind at south-west and the Rock of Lisbon bearing S87E., 47 leagues.”.  It’s been a rough time for the Polychrest; she’s missed tide, dawdled along, rolled her mizzenmast out, … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER EIGHT

Posted on August 27, 2014 by spectioneer

This chapter spends quite a bit of time on the complexity of relationships between Stephen, Sophie, Jack, Diana, and Mr. Canning.  It’s a pair of flawed duets, a dreadful menage a trois, and offers the possibility of a third menage … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER SEVEN

Posted on August 23, 2014 by spectioneer

Gee, thanks Stephen for waiting until the next chapter to relieve our worries that you wouldn’t go on this voyage.  Nice letter.   Actually, it is a very nice letter, calculated to relieve both the readers’ worries and those of … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER SIX

Posted on August 13, 2014 by spectioneer

Back in England, and Jack is uneasy, harassed, unemployed, teetering on the edge of financial disaster.  He visits the  Admiralty and receives a ghost of a possibility, and then through London cowering in a cab, thinking about “…the chops of … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER FIVE

Posted on August 11, 2014 by spectioneer

Suddenly we are aboard the Lord Nelson, an East-Indiaman commanded by Captain Spottiswood.  We learn about the ship’s troubles crossing the tropic, homeward-bound from Bombay, and how she put in to Gibraltar for repairs.  Stripped of proper seamen by the press, … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER FOUR

Posted on August 9, 2014 by spectioneer

This is my absolute favorite chapter in this book  — it begins with a hungry French captain sitting in his drawers doing paperwork, and ends with a crossing into Spain.  Fabulous comedy.  Stirring adventure. The French captain sitting in his … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER THREE

Posted on August 8, 2014 by spectioneer

Is Stephen falling for Diana?  Thank god for diaries  —  he confesses himself:  “…then when she suddenly kissed me, the strength left my knees, quite ludicrously, and I could scarcely follow her into the ball-room with any countenance.”.  And he’s … Continue reading →

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POST CAPTAIN — CHAPTER TWO

Posted on August 2, 2014 by spectioneer

This chapter begins with a dinner party seen from two viewpoints.  Mrs. Williams thinks of it as a success  —  Captain Aubrey ate a second partridge, and she doesn’t suppose they have dinners like that very often.  Jack sees the … Continue reading →

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