9-11
The Voices of Men in Praise
Of Jane Austen
Messages c.
June 28, 2002
9-11
To All,
In an earlier post about Patrick O'Brian (POB), I mumbled something about him writing Post Captain (PC) as an homage to JA. Ashton asked me the source for that, and I came up empty.
Since then I have been through POB's biography and found nothing there to support my contentious mumble. So it must remain as something that many POB fans seem to "know" without any apparent firm foundation.
There is some discussion in the POB Gunroom archives about Austen-like characters in PC: a character who was similar to Mrs Bennet, etc. One poster said that the first part of PC read something like P&P, while the last part was more like Persuasion. If you are curious, try the link and search on "jane austen post captain." The retrieved excerpts highlight the search terms, so it is relatively easy to skip the false positives.
Just trying to tie up that loose end.
DAGHDA Jim
Dear D.J.,
If you will read the note I appended to Linda's of 6/3/02 you will see testimony to the fact that O'Brian admits to being the Janite that POBites suspect.
Still, it would be nice to see it in writing. I guess that it is my job to find those things, but I always think it civilized when other folks do my job. It's my job—that's why I get the big bucks. In my naive period, I thought it impossible to make big bucks at a place where there was no revenue. But, like most Americans, I now understand that this site could be worth billions now if only I had taken the time to hook up with the right accountant and the right investment banker. No one did that job for me either. Phooie! I could be on my golden parachute by now.
Dear Polyashter,
This is great. I feel a lot better about the letters now. One thing - I do hope the town of Barfeston is pronounced "Bar-feston" and not "Barfston." Am I right in assuming that Captain Ernest Leigh Austen was not the grandson whose wife burned up her husband's old musty letters? Anyway, I am getting inspired to look for Deirdre LeFaye's book now. Of course, after I finish the stack of reading waiting for me and view Tess of the D'urbervilles with Justine Waddell NOT N. Kinski.
About "provenance", in my dictionary it is listed as "provenience", then says (esp. Am provenance). Go figure! Anyway it is being elegantly used by you.
Now about the similarities you find in your "missing link" between Fitzbill and Eliz., I have to point out that there was a marked difference in their personalities as regards sense of humor. Darcy tended to take things seriously so that he often missed the ridiculous in situations, which Elizabeth could find fun in. She took life more lightly than Fitzbill, as Jane even pointed out after they got engaged, that Darcy would have to learn to laugh at himself, and until he did, Eliz. would tread lightly in that area.
Oh - yes, I realize I have priced the manuscript low, but I'm thinking about people of our Sense, Sensibility and Persuasion. Some might not even pay $5 for an original manuscript of P&P, though they would pay a lot more than that for a fossilized porkchop which Elvis ate at Graceland!!! As the British say, "different courses for different horses!" You are Great, Ashton!
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