Blue at the Mizzen

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[[Image:Batm-cover-hc.jpg|left|thumb|Cover]]
[[Image:Batm-cover-hc.jpg|left|thumb|Cover]]
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'''Blue at the Mizzen''' is the twentieth and last completed volume of the Aubrey-Maturin series, written during 1999 in the rooms at Trinity College, [[Dublin]] (Stephen [[Maturin]]’s alma mater), to which O’Brian retired after the death of his wife.
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'''Blue at the Mizzen''' is the twentieth and last completed volume of the [[Aubrey-Maturin series]], written during 1999 in the rooms at Trinity College, [[Dublin]] ([[Stephen Maturin]]’s alma mater), to which O’Brian retired after the death of his wife.
''Page references are to the HarperCollins paperback edition.''
''Page references are to the HarperCollins paperback edition.''
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''For more details about the plot, which will contain '''spoilers''', see [[Summary for Blue at the Mizzen]]''
''For more details about the plot, which will contain '''spoilers''', see [[Summary for Blue at the Mizzen]]''
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Jack Aubrey is in high feather after the successful capture of a Turkish treasure-galley, but there are signs of trouble ahead;  his crew disintegrates into riot and desertion at Gibraltar after the distribution of prize-money, a token of the much greater dissolution that must surely follow now that the war is over.  First, however, there is the long-delayed mission to Chile, to support the local independence movement under the guise of a hydrographical survey.  ''Surprise'' first returns to England for refitting and Jack receives a possibly two-edged compliment from a royal personage;  then, on the voyage out, she calls at Freetown, where Stephen has a rendezvous of intense personal significance with a most unusual zoologist.  Ahead lie a perilous voyage round the Horn and a bewildering course amongst the shifting policies and influences of the Chilean revolutionary factions, still further complicated by an unruly subordinate captain.  There is no lack of action, and at the end Jack receives a piece of news for which he has been preparing throughout his seagoing life.
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[[Jack Aubrey]] is in high feather after the successful capture of a [[Turkey|Turkish]] treasure-galley, but there are signs of trouble ahead;  his crew disintegrates into riot and desertion at [[Gibraltar]] after the distribution of [[prize-money]], a token of the much greater dissolution that must surely follow now that the war is over.  First, however, there is the long-delayed mission to [[Chile]], to support the local independence movement under the guise of a hydrographical survey.  ''[[Surprise]]'' first returns to [[England]] for refitting and Jack receives a possibly two-edged compliment from a royal personage;  then, on the voyage out, she calls at [[Freetown]], where Stephen has a rendezvous of intense personal significance with a most unusual zoologist.  Ahead lie a perilous voyage round the [[Cape Horn|Horn]] and a bewildering course amongst the shifting policies and influences of the Chilean revolutionary factions, still further complicated by an unruly subordinate captain.  There is no lack of action, and at the end Jack receives a piece of news for which he has been preparing throughout his seagoing life.
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==Historical context==
==Historical context==
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''[[Blue at the Mizzen]]'' ranks only a little behind ''[[The Mauritius Command]]'' as a book that is grounded in actual history.  Admiral Lord [[Cochrane]], whose career had provided a foundation for ''[[Master and Commander]]'' and ''[[The Reverse of the Medal]]'', returns to cast a double shadow;  on the one hand there is an incipient portrait of him under the name of Sir David [[Lindsay]], and on the other the principal incidents of Chapters 9 and 10 – the Valdivia action and the capture of the ''Esmeralda'' – are taken from real exploits achieved by [[Cochrane]] in 1817.  The dissensions among the [[Chile]]an leaders are also founded on fact, although O’Brian seems to have brought them forward in time, partly no doubt to provide a plausible reason for [[Jack]]’s ultimatum in chapter 10, but also because of the author’s long-standing fascination with the idea of conflicting powers around and behind the throne;  in fact [[O’Higgins]] and [[San Martín]] (here represented as O’Higgins’s supplanter) worked together in the early years of Chilean independence, and it was not until 1823 that a reaction by clericalists and landowners undermined O’Higgins and drove him into exile.  
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''[[Blue at the Mizzen]]'' ranks only a little behind ''[[The Mauritius Command]]'' as a book that is grounded in actual history.  Admiral Lord [[Cochrane]], whose career had provided a foundation for ''[[Master and Commander]]'' and ''[[The Reverse of the Medal]]'', returns to cast a double shadow;  on the one hand there is an incipient portrait of him under the name of Sir [[David Lindsay]], and on the other the principal incidents of Chapters 9 and 10 – the [[Valdivia]] action and the capture of the ''[[Esmeralda]]'' – are taken from real exploits achieved by Cochrane in 1817.  The dissensions among the Chilean leaders are also founded on fact, although O’Brian seems to have brought them forward in time, partly no doubt to provide a plausible reason for Jack’s ultimatum in chapter 10, but also because of the author’s long-standing fascination with the idea of conflicting powers around and behind the throne;  in fact [[Bernardo O’Higgins]] and [[San Martín]] (here represented as O’Higgins’s supplanter) worked together in the early years of Chilean independence, and it was not until 1823 that a reaction by clericalists and landowners undermined O’Higgins and drove him into exile.  
==Major characters in ''Blue at the Mizzen''==  ''(h) :  historical''
==Major characters in ''Blue at the Mizzen''==  ''(h) :  historical''
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*'''[[AUBREY]], Capt. John, RN''' Post-captain seconded to the Chilean revolutionary junta
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*'''Capt. John Aubrey, RN''' Post-captain seconded to the Chilean revolutionary junta
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*'''CARRERA, Miguel''' President of the Chilean Junta (perhaps to be identified with the historical José Miguel Carrera Verdugo (h), Governor of Chile during the first period of independence (1810-1814)
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*'''[[Miguel Carrera]],''' President of the Chilean Junta (perhaps to be identified with the historical [[José Miguel Carrera Verdugo]], Governor of Chile during the first period of independence (1810-1814)
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*'''DOBSON, Austin''' Naturalist and member of the Royal Society (named apparently after the poet Austin Dobson (1840-1921), possibly in honour of his patriotic ballad with the refrain ‘Where are the galleons of Spain?’
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*'''[[Austin Dobson]]''' Naturalist and member of the Royal Society (named apparently after the poet Austin Dobson (1840-1921), possibly in honour of his patriotic ballad with the refrain ‘Where are the galleons of Spain?’
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*'''HANSON, Horatio''' Master's mate;  natural son of HRH the Duke of [[Clarence]]
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*'''[[Horatio Hanson]],''' Master's mate;  natural son of HRH the Duke of [[Clarence]]
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*'''[[JACOB]], Amos''' Jewish jewel-merchant and intelligence agent
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*'''[[Amos Jacob]]''' Jewish jewel-merchant and intelligence agent
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*'''LINDSAY, Sir David''' Former naval officer who has taken service with one of the Chilean revolutionary groups
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*'''Sir David Lindsay''' Former naval officer who has taken service with one of the Chilean revolutionary groups
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*'''LODGE, Captain''' Commander of the American frigate ''Delaware''
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*'''[[Captain Lodge]]''' Commander of the American frigate ''Delaware''
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*'''[[MATURIN]], Dr Stephen''' Physician, naturalist and voluntary intelligence agent
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*'''Dr Stephen Maturin''' Physician, naturalist and voluntary intelligence agent
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*'''[[O’HIGGINS]], Bernardo''' (h) (1778-1842) Chilean revolutionary leader of Irish descent
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*'''Bernardo O'Higgins''' (h) (1778-1842) Chilean revolutionary leader of Irish descent
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*'''ROCHE, Colonel''' Guest at Lord Barmouth’s table;  an eye-witness of Waterloo
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*'''Colonel Roche''' Guest at Lord Barmouth’s table;  an eye-witness of Waterloo
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*'''SHEPHERD, Mr''', and '''STORE, Mr''' Midshipmen in ''Surprise''
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*'''Mr Shepherd''', and '''Mr Store''' Midshipmen in ''Surprise''
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*'''WANTAGE, Algernon (or Henry)''' Master's mate in ''Surprise''
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*'''Algernon (or Henry) Wantage''' Master's mate in ''Surprise''
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*'''[[WOODS]] (née [[HEATHERLEIGH]]), Christine''' Naturalist, widow of the Governor of Sierra Leone
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*'''[[WOODS]] (née [[HEATHERLEIGH]]), [[Christine Woods]], (née [[Heatherleigh]]),''' Naturalist, widow of the Governor of [[Sierra Leone]]

Revision as of 12:57, 5 June 2007

Cover

Blue at the Mizzen is the twentieth and last completed volume of the Aubrey-Maturin series, written during 1999 in the rooms at Trinity College, Dublin (Stephen Maturin’s alma mater), to which O’Brian retired after the death of his wife.

Page references are to the HarperCollins paperback edition.

Plot introduction

For more details about the plot, which will contain spoilers, see Summary for Blue at the Mizzen

Jack Aubrey is in high feather after the successful capture of a Turkish treasure-galley, but there are signs of trouble ahead; his crew disintegrates into riot and desertion at Gibraltar after the distribution of prize-money, a token of the much greater dissolution that must surely follow now that the war is over. First, however, there is the long-delayed mission to Chile, to support the local independence movement under the guise of a hydrographical survey. Surprise first returns to England for refitting and Jack receives a possibly two-edged compliment from a royal personage; then, on the voyage out, she calls at Freetown, where Stephen has a rendezvous of intense personal significance with a most unusual zoologist. Ahead lie a perilous voyage round the Horn and a bewildering course amongst the shifting policies and influences of the Chilean revolutionary factions, still further complicated by an unruly subordinate captain. There is no lack of action, and at the end Jack receives a piece of news for which he has been preparing throughout his seagoing life.


Time Summer 1816-early 1817.

Historical context

Blue at the Mizzen ranks only a little behind The Mauritius Command as a book that is grounded in actual history. Admiral Lord Cochrane, whose career had provided a foundation for Master and Commander and The Reverse of the Medal, returns to cast a double shadow; on the one hand there is an incipient portrait of him under the name of Sir David Lindsay, and on the other the principal incidents of Chapters 9 and 10 – the Valdivia action and the capture of the Esmeralda – are taken from real exploits achieved by Cochrane in 1817. The dissensions among the Chilean leaders are also founded on fact, although O’Brian seems to have brought them forward in time, partly no doubt to provide a plausible reason for Jack’s ultimatum in chapter 10, but also because of the author’s long-standing fascination with the idea of conflicting powers around and behind the throne; in fact Bernardo O’Higgins and San Martín (here represented as O’Higgins’s supplanter) worked together in the early years of Chilean independence, and it was not until 1823 that a reaction by clericalists and landowners undermined O’Higgins and drove him into exile.

==Major characters in Blue at the Mizzen== (h) : historical

  • Capt. John Aubrey, RN Post-captain seconded to the Chilean revolutionary junta
  • Miguel Carrera, President of the Chilean Junta (perhaps to be identified with the historical José Miguel Carrera Verdugo, Governor of Chile during the first period of independence (1810-1814)
  • Austin Dobson Naturalist and member of the Royal Society (named apparently after the poet Austin Dobson (1840-1921), possibly in honour of his patriotic ballad with the refrain ‘Where are the galleons of Spain?’
  • Horatio Hanson, Master's mate; natural son of HRH the Duke of Clarence
  • Amos Jacob Jewish jewel-merchant and intelligence agent
  • Sir David Lindsay Former naval officer who has taken service with one of the Chilean revolutionary groups
  • Captain Lodge Commander of the American frigate Delaware
  • Dr Stephen Maturin Physician, naturalist and voluntary intelligence agent
  • Bernardo O'Higgins (h) (1778-1842) Chilean revolutionary leader of Irish descent
  • Colonel Roche Guest at Lord Barmouth’s table; an eye-witness of Waterloo
  • Mr Shepherd, and Mr Store Midshipmen in Surprise
  • Algernon (or Henry) Wantage Master's mate in Surprise
  • WOODS (née HEATHERLEIGH), Christine Woods, (née Heatherleigh), Naturalist, widow of the Governor of Sierra Leone


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
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