Mount TBR #11

I read this book for Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2019.

The Nutmeg of Consolation – Patrick O’Brian

In the 14^th episode of the twenty-book series set on the high seas in the Napoleonic era, after landing on a reef and then seeing their ship destroyed by a typhoon, the crew of HMS Diane under Captain Jack Aubrey are trapped on an island about 200 nautical miles from Batavia (as in Jakarta, not Western New York of John Gardner fame). They are salvaging materials to build a schooner and make an escape.

Unfortunately, in a rousing fight scene, local Dyaks set the schooner afire. After settling Dyak hash, our heroes and their crew are able to escape the island.

Fortune decrees that in Batavia a Dutch ship has just been raised so it is now possible to for Jack and the crew to intercept the French frigate Cornélie, which was part of their original mission anyway. Ultimately, they are to make their way to Chile and Peru in order to foment independence movements there and thus get up Spain’s nose.

In this outing the usual brisk pace is not maintained at all times and there seems more nautical mumbo-jumbo than usual. Nevertheless, like a good historical novelist should, O’Brian gives insights into the times and places, especially in the miserable colonial life of Australia. I used to think that Australia was lucky to get the convicts (while we were stuck with the Puritans), but I was disabused of that notion by this book. The interplay among our favorite characters is funny as usual, with the addition of two little girls, survivors of an epidemic of what American Indians call “white man’s diseases” on their island. After hearing Ireland being trashed by dumbass English soldiers, Stephen runs a lowlife through in an immensely satisfying scene. The scene where Padeen tells Stephen he always knew the doctor would come for him will send a decent reader to the box of Kleenex.

Obviously, I’m going to give Aubrey-Maturin novels good reviews, given I’ve read 14 of them so far, with a couple of those being re-read along the way. I’ve got plans to read the rest, too. And then start over with #3 HMS Surprise.

Heaven grant me the time.