HMS Surprise (novel)
From WikiPOBia
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
Contents |
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 -- Chaplin
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.
| Books in the Aubrey-Maturin Series by Patrick O'Brian | |
|
Master and Commander | Post Captain | HMS Surprise | The Mauritius Command | Desolation Island | The Fortune of War | The Surgeon's Mate | The Ionian Mission | Treason's Harbour | The Far Side of the World | The Reverse of the Medal | The Letter of Marque | The Thirteen-Gun Salute | The Nutmeg of Consolation | Clarissa Oakes/The Truelove | The Wine-Dark Sea | The Commodore | The Yellow Admiral | The Hundred Days | Blue at the Mizzen | 21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey | |
| Other books by Patrick O'Brian | |
