HMS Surprise (novel)

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Current revision as of 17:48, 31 January 2009

Cover

HMS Surprise is the third book of the Aubrey-Maturin series and seeing Jack and Stephen off to India and the shipping of the East India Company.

HMS Surprise -- originally published in 1973

For more details about the plot, which will contain spoilers, see Summary for HMS Surprise

Important New Characters:

Richard Canning: A Jewish merchant and ship builder. He offers Jack a chance to captain one of his newest ships as a letter of marque. He also takes Diana Villiers into keeping, upsetting British society not to mention his wife and family and he leaves, with Diana, for India.

Dil: a peasant girl Stephen meets in Bombay, she is his guide while he is in the city. Stephen sees a pure innocence in her that he would love to preserve, but is unsure how he can.

Mr Stanhope: the new envoy to Kampong. Stanhope is not a good sailor, constantly ill.

Officers in HMS Lively

• Simmons -- First Lieutenant
• Randall -- Second Lieutenant
• Fielding -- Lieutenant (not to be confused with Charles Fielding or James Fielding seen in later books)
• John Dashwood -- Lieutenant
• Lord Garron -- Lieutenant
• Butler -- Midshipman
• Norry -- Master
• Carew -- Chaplain

Officers of HMS Surprise

• Hervey -- First Lieutenant (promoted master and commander when Surprise reaches Bombay)
• Stourton -- First Lieutenant after Hervey is promoted
• Nicolls -- Second Lieutenant (lost during a storm)
• Thomas Pullings -- Third Lieutenant (made second after the loss of Nicolls)
• William Babbington - Midshipman (made acting lieutenant after Nicolls' death)
• Braithwaite -- Senior Midshipman
• Callow -- Midshipman
• Joliffe -- Midshipman
• William Church -- Midshipman
• Meadows -- Midshipman
• Harrowby -- Master
• Bowes -- Purser
• Hailes -- Gunner
• Peters -- Master at Arms
• Barret Bonden -- Coxswain
• Nevin -- Clerk
• Rev. White -- Chaplain

Symbolism

• Animals:

Sea Serpent -- Pg 189 (Norton) Stephen has captured a sea-serpent in a net. While still netted, the snake bites itself several times and dies; its colors fading before Stephen's eyes. The snake works as a symbol for Diana and how her capture by Canning has faded her own vivacity and spark.