Hornblower in the West Indies
Feb. 27th, 2006 10:10 pmHornblower in the West Indies disturbs me for some reason. Partly it's the anticlimax; after Hornblower's sailed about the seven seas defeating most of the navies and armies of europe singlehandedly peace, however desirable to experience, isn't as exciting.
I've always felt tremendous empathy for Hornblower. He constantly forces himself to do and be what's necessary, while being rather shy himself. He's supposedly curbing his naturally gregarious (or unconfident?) nature, yet all the instances related of his talking to his subordinates are where he does end up snapping at them.
In Lord Hornblower, Freeman talks back to him, politely, and he just doesn't handle it. And more so in West Indies. He has his friend his clerk suggest an idea to his captain, who he doesn't really get on with, so he can give him credit in the dispatches to make up for some bad luck. I understand sort of how it could come about, but it seems too like laughing at him behind his back.
And for some reason, I don't know why, I never warmed to Spendlove; I feel sure I'm supposed to, I just didn't.
And he's horribly patronising to his wife when she talks about the navy. How can he love her, and think she's so intellegent, without listening? ETA: But the bit where she asks him for money isn't a problem like I'd remembered. He's a bit shocked at the amount, but does trust her without more than a moment's hesitation.
I would put it down to being late; The Crisis, whilst I enjoyed it more, was somewhat morbid. But yet, the intervening book, Hotspur was just about the most rollicking and Horbloweriest of them all.
I've always felt tremendous empathy for Hornblower. He constantly forces himself to do and be what's necessary, while being rather shy himself. He's supposedly curbing his naturally gregarious (or unconfident?) nature, yet all the instances related of his talking to his subordinates are where he does end up snapping at them.
In Lord Hornblower, Freeman talks back to him, politely, and he just doesn't handle it. And more so in West Indies. He has his friend his clerk suggest an idea to his captain, who he doesn't really get on with, so he can give him credit in the dispatches to make up for some bad luck. I understand sort of how it could come about, but it seems too like laughing at him behind his back.
And for some reason, I don't know why, I never warmed to Spendlove; I feel sure I'm supposed to, I just didn't.
And he's horribly patronising to his wife when she talks about the navy. How can he love her, and think she's so intellegent, without listening? ETA: But the bit where she asks him for money isn't a problem like I'd remembered. He's a bit shocked at the amount, but does trust her without more than a moment's hesitation.
I would put it down to being late; The Crisis, whilst I enjoyed it more, was somewhat morbid. But yet, the intervening book, Hotspur was just about the most rollicking and Horbloweriest of them all.