artyartie

If you noticed with my last two meme posts, there's a few new characters up there, most of whom have something to do with the ships of the Royal Navy during the Napoleanic Wars. Two series in particular - Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander series and the Horatio Hornblower series, both the books and the A&E movies. I recommend both to you, and with the approach of the Trafalgar Bicentennial, I'm gobbling up all kinds of books about the Age of Sail (including non-fiction), there will be further recommendations. And hopefully lots of icons. And obligatory references to Age of Sail characters in random works. But for now, some words on these series mentioned above - with some special notes about the Hornblower series.

For someone who was smitten with the poem "Sea Fever" the first time she read it, it took me many, many years before I finally fell in love with the tall ships and her men. After a great deal of cajoling, I finally watched the Master and Commander movie, finally answering the call of the running tide. The movie was exquisitely done, and while there were many things I adored about it, especially the music, it was the relationship between Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin that struck me the most. Such an endearing and powerful friendship, the like of which usually isn't portrayed in movies, was so touching, and once I finally dived into the books just this past year, I discovered O'Brian's world was an incredible thing indeed. There were times, of course, like poor Stephen, I didn't know if they were talking about the sails or the cannons, but nonetheless I found myself holding my breath during the battle scenes so vividly described. But again, it was the two men and their relationship to each other which drew me in. From the first pages, with Stephen's ascerbic bickering and Jack's bewildered amusement, I knew this was the heart of the series, what made it such 'literary crack.' And though I've yet to begin the 4th tome, I know these are books I will read over and over again.

In the process of waiting for my reading partner to finish the 3rd O'Brian novel, I decided to start the Horatio Hornblower series. This was helped along by the discovery of the beauty and talent that is Ioan Gruffudd, who plays Hornblower. Though in the opposite of the O'Brian series, I find myself drawn to the first movies more. They expand upon the short chapters that make up Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, the first book in the series, and they also greatly flesh out a character who is hardly mentioned in the first two books - Archie Kennedy.

From looking over the communities connected with HH, it was obvious that Archie/Horatio has quite the following - and for good reason. The development of Archie's character and his relationship with Horatio, especially in "The Duchess and the Devil," are absolutely breathtaking. To see Archie go from a scarred and likely broken young man who at one point loses all hope to a man full of bravery who is willing to make the ultimate sacrafice for his beloved friend is an incredible transformation. When this new Archie began to blossom in "The Wrong War," my heart just soared to see him so whole and happy, able to return the care and support Horatio had always given him when the situation was reversed. By the time we come to "Mutiny" and "Retribution"," Archie is standing up for the abused Midshipman Wellard, handling a tyrranical captain just as well as the other lieutenants, able to enjoy a good laugh (and Horatio having a shower on deck, one of the best treats of the series) and, in the end, to make a terrible choice.

I think Horatio only realized his feelings once it was too late, as young and hopelessly naive as he is. Of course, authors can tweak with history and have our two heroes come to a realization much sooner, but it's nothing out of character, but a progression of who they are. I've had discussions about slash with two friends who are on my f-list, and while I'll agree with one that strong feelings don't have to lead to romance, it doesn't mean they never can. The obligatory heteroeroticism of movies, books and TV shows annoys me a great deal more than rampant slashy tendencies - I'd rather see two people with chemistry and a spark together than two characters who have no connection whatsover besides the fact that they're a girl and a boy. And while Age of Sail slash has its own challenges, namely Article 29 *(though you could be put to death for nearly everything on board, it seems), there are some good things to be found, if that, to make a very bad cliche, floats your boat. And no matter if you see these friendships as romantic or platonic, they are still remarkable stories of remarkable men in remarkable times.