Course on Spain's coast

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Course on Spain's coast (English original title "Master and Commander") is the first of a series of adventure novels from 1970 written by Patrick O'Brian .

The protagonists of the series, which is set at the time of the Napoleonic Wars , are Jack Aubrey , an officer in the Royal Navy and Dr. Stephen Maturin , his friend and closest confidante. The novels often revolve around the adventures experienced on board the ships commanded by Aubrey and are easy to read for those interested in maritime due to the detailed technical language, but with their lively characters and the reference to historical events and figures of the early 19th century offer a broad spectrum Audience interesting reading material. The Hollywood film of the same name, Master & Commander - Until the End of the World is based on this series of novels.

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The story begins on April 18, 1800 in Port Mahon , a former base of the British Navy on Menorca .

There, Jack Aubrey, as a lieutenant without command of his own, meets the half-Irish, half-Spanish naturalist and philosopher Stephen Maturin. When they first meet at a concert, there is almost an invitation to a duel, as the characters get into each other's hair. A short time later, however, Aubrey was promoted to commander of Brigg Sophie and, in his euphoria, happened to meet Stephen Maturin for the second time. As a result of the meeting and their mutual love for music, the two become friends. Since Sophie lacks an on-board doctor, Aubrey offers Maturin this position. Although more of a researcher than an official surgeon, Maturin, who was penniless at the time, accepted the offer.

For her first assignment, Aubrey has to accompany a small convoy of merchant ships eastwards with his ship. During this voyage, the excellent seamanship of Aubrey crystallized, who immediately made changes to the sailing characteristics of the ship and tried to explain the basics of seafaring to the layman Maturin. This will also introduce other characters from the Sophie crew, some of whom will accompany the novel series and the protagonists Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin through to the end. Among them are Thomas Pullings, William Mowett, William Babbington, Barrett Bonden, and the Steward Preserved Killick.

Stephen Maturin's relationship with Lieutenant James Dillon due to their joint membership in the United Irishmen is initially unclear and appears to be burdened.

After this first convoy order, Sophie is allowed to go hunting independently.

After many prizes have been won on Sophie’s voyages , this leads to upheavals in the relationship between Jack Aubrey and his first officer, Lieutenant Dillon. In addition, the Schebeken frigate Cacafuego is commissioned from Spain to arrest the Sophie .

A first confrontation can be Dr. Maturin with a ruse in his capacity as a medic by pretending to turn away the plague for the better.

Nevertheless, a little later Sophie meets Cacafuegeo , which at first seems far superior to Sophie . After a heated battle in which Lieutenant Dillon is killed, the Cacafuego is defeated and conquered. However , Aubrey lost the unique chance of not only getting a significant prize money, but possibly being able to exchange his Sophie for the frigate together with a promotion to full captain, through a love affair with the wife of the port commander of Port Mahon, Captain Harte. The betrayed husband, of all people, has to decide on the recognition of the conquered ship as a prize, which leads to the fact that he does not recognize the ship as a prize out of resentment and under flimsy justifications and sells it elsewhere for below value.

The battle, however, earned him a lot of fame and recognition in the Royal Navy. In the end, the Sophie is brought up by the French during another escort mission and her crew is taken prisoner. This takes place against the historical background of the Battle of Algeciras in 1801, which the protagonists witnessed on board a French liner.

After a short time, the prisoners are exchanged for Gibraltar, where Aubrey now has to answer to the court martial for the loss of Sophie . He is honored acquitted because, in view of the clear superiority of the French, he has left no stone unturned to save his ship.

Occurring persons

Fictional people

  • Jack Aubrey
  • Stephen Maturin
  • James Dillon
  • Thomas Pullings
  • William Marshall
  • William Babbington
  • William Mowett
  • Captain Harte
  • Molly Harte
  • Captain George Heneage Dundas
  • Lieutenant Dalziel

Historically guaranteed persons

Reviews

“Nothing is glamorous. The press gangings, the squalor are all here .... The battle scenes are tremendous ... This is not secondhand Forester, but a really fine piece of writing. "(Sunday Mirror).