RSS Feed

Life and Duties Archive

A Squeaker’s Letter Home

Among the many inventions of the twentieth century – air travel, space travel, the computer, and television, to name a few – add adolescence. Of course, teenagers have always been a part of society throughout history. However, the concept of a prolonged period of quasi-adulthood during which adult responsibilities are temporally suspended is a product [...]
Read More
Patrick O’Brian’s Take on Music at Sea in Aubrey’s Royal Navy

As anyone who’s read even the first sentence of our beloved series knows, music plays an important part throughout. In a way, it’s the only thing our two protagonists have in common, the thing that unites them and the foundation of their friendship. Therefore it is unsurprising that the man responsible for the creation of [...]
Read More
A Brief Guide to Men and Officers in Aubrey’s Royal Navy

Current scholarship (thanks in part to the title of N. A. M. Rodger’s influential book) often refers to the ships of Aubrey’s Royal Navy as “the wooden world”. This is a highly accurate description of a complicated self-contained society with strict rules of conduct and hierarchy. Entire articles can be and have been written about [...]
Read More
Recipes For The Adventurous Sailor In You!

These recipes were all taken from the amazing book Lobscouse and Spotted Dog, and will lead to historically accurate (more or less) reproductions of some of the food mentioned in our beloved series. Lobscouse Serves 8 Ingredients 4 lbs stewing beef 1 bay leaf 4 large onions 6 large potatoes 4 large leeks 8 oz [...]
Read More
A Comprehensive Guide to Burial at Sea in Aubrey’s Royal Navy

The burials. That child Ellis in his hammock with the flag sewed over him looked like a little pudding, and now at the recollection his eye clouded again. He had wept, wept, his face streaming with tears as the bodies went over the side and the marines fired their volley. – Master and Commander Our [...]
Read More
Customs in Aubrey’s Royal Navy: A Random Collection

By act of Parliament in 1760 the cost of pay and victuals of one able seaman per hundred borne was set aside for the relief of poor officers’ widows. These imaginary men were known as widows’ men. This odd form of charity was abolished in 1823. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, a British [...]
Read More
Nautical Expressions From Aubrey’s Royal Navy

One of the things that makes our beloved series so rich and fascinating is Patrick O’Brian’s flawless use of many colorful nautical expressions. They help bring the world of Jack and Stephen to life, and give dimension to even the most minor characters. This is a short list of some common naval expressions, most of [...]
Read More
Women in the Wooden World

Throughout the course of our beloved series, women are seen primarily as land-going creatures, not meant for life at sea. While both Sophie and Diana take passage as guests on various ships, women are rarely said to be serving on board any of Jack Aubrey’s vessels. The most notable exception would be the unfortunate gunners [...]
Read More
Eight Articles of Demand of the Nore Mutineers

These Articles of Demand were presented to Admiral Buckner by the Nore mutineers. It should be noted that the Admiralty received them and immediately rejected them. The official reply was “All that could reasonably be expected by the seamen and marines has already been granted them. Their Lordships cannot accede any further requests.” Article 1 [...]
Read More
The Breeze at Spithead and the Gale at the Nore

The Spithead and Nore mutinies were two major mutinies by sailors of the Royal Navy in 1797. There was also discontent and minor incidents on ships in other locations in the same year. The mutinies were potentially dangerous for Britain, because at the time the country was at war with the Revolutionary government of France. [...]
Read More

All To Seek: Cross-Reference

Subjects Commonly Addressed