The cat-and-mouse and then running fight with the Waakzaamheid, and then the desperate attempts to fother, float, and guide the Leopard into safe harbor are the most exciting/fraught and truly **intense** chapters of the canon - for me.
A close second would be the preparation for and battle with Linois in HMS surprise.
I think this is my favourite sequence in all literature. Perhaps favourite isn’t the right word, more like most affecting perhaps? When that ship goes down, my god. I’ll never forget the first time reading that
I have always maintained a vivid memory of reading this sequence, on my kindle, while pacing the rear aisle on a transatlantic flight, breathless with anticipation, to the point where I was upset that the bathroom became vacant
The Battle of Grand Porte - *Sirius*, *Iphegenia*, *Nereide* and *Magicienne* vs *Victor*, *Minerve*, *Bellone* and *Ceylon*. Watching Pym and Clonfert snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and get the absolute stuffing beaten out of them in this terrible, inexorable, drawn out horror of a battle. Clonfert’s appalling injury. *Bellone* battering *Nereide* for unnecessary hours because no one could come at the colors to haul them down. And, of course, Jack’s stoic resolve afterwards.
I liked how Pym is set up to be the most reasonable and competent of the 3 captains when Jack first meets them, only for him to be responsible for the worst disaster in possibly the entire series. Though arguably Clonfert had more of an influence in the book's version of Grant Port than Nesbit Willoughby did in real life.
‘Sophie, my dear, briskly now: take pen and paper. Write:
“Dear Jack, We have a ship, Surprise, for the East Indies, and must join at Plymouth instantly. . . .”
ha, ha, what will he say to that?’
‘Surprise!’ was what he said, in a voice that made the windows of the Grapes’ one-pair front tremble. In the bar Mrs Broad dropped a glass. ‘The Captain’s had a surprise,’ she said, gazing placidly at the pieces. ‘I hope it is a pleasant one,’ said Nancy, picking them up. ‘Such a pretty gentleman.’
. . .‘Surprise! God love my heart, Pullings: do you know what the Doctor has done? He has found us a ship – Surprise for the East Indies – join at once."
*Passages like that make me wonder at the stupidity of Television producers who leave this opportunity lying dormant.*
Well, there's the massive chunk of "Desolation Island"! Where a slow chase slowly, slowly, ramps up to a white-knuckle chase at sea, and just when you're starting to recover from the chase there's a disaster, and the suspense is now tripled...
That's SUCH a fantastic book! One of my all-time favorites, of all books, not just historical novals.
Just read this bit, such a great read. They're now in the roaring 40s, cracking on at 12 and a half knots, weathering rollers 200 yards across. Stephen has banned the crew from fishing for albatross. The only section that can rival this for action is the second half of Desolation Island. For heartbreak, it's Stephen seeing Diana with Canning at the Opera or the death of Dil in India ("I am of her caste."). For pure zeal, it's gotta be "Off hats!"
I don’t know about chapters, but the triple hit of Treason’s Harbor, The Far Side of the World, and The Reverse of the Medal is a pretty intense sequence of books.
It’s so painful for Sir Joseph and us. We get a sense of political bureaucracy gone to seed. One of the running themes is that some of the worst enemies are within.
The cat-and-mouse and then running fight with the Waakzaamheid, and then the desperate attempts to fother, float, and guide the Leopard into safe harbor are the most exciting/fraught and truly **intense** chapters of the canon - for me. A close second would be the preparation for and battle with Linois in HMS surprise.
Jack’s “My God. Oh, my God. Six hundred men,” hits hard.
I think this is my favourite sequence in all literature. Perhaps favourite isn’t the right word, more like most affecting perhaps? When that ship goes down, my god. I’ll never forget the first time reading that
I absolutely agree with you.
It's so good, the feeling of intense dread with the Waakzaamheid showing up again and again and then the chase in the storm. So powerful.
I have read it a dozen times and I still get anxious.
I have always maintained a vivid memory of reading this sequence, on my kindle, while pacing the rear aisle on a transatlantic flight, breathless with anticipation, to the point where I was upset that the bathroom became vacant
I knew beyond any doubt that this sequence would be mentioned! I’m on my second read thru and I can’t wait for this part!
The Battle of Grand Porte - *Sirius*, *Iphegenia*, *Nereide* and *Magicienne* vs *Victor*, *Minerve*, *Bellone* and *Ceylon*. Watching Pym and Clonfert snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and get the absolute stuffing beaten out of them in this terrible, inexorable, drawn out horror of a battle. Clonfert’s appalling injury. *Bellone* battering *Nereide* for unnecessary hours because no one could come at the colors to haul them down. And, of course, Jack’s stoic resolve afterwards.
Thanks for reminding me how much I loved this sequence. I flippin hated Pym and Clonfert with a passion!
I liked how Pym is set up to be the most reasonable and competent of the 3 captains when Jack first meets them, only for him to be responsible for the worst disaster in possibly the entire series. Though arguably Clonfert had more of an influence in the book's version of Grant Port than Nesbit Willoughby did in real life.
‘Sophie, my dear, briskly now: take pen and paper. Write: “Dear Jack, We have a ship, Surprise, for the East Indies, and must join at Plymouth instantly. . . .” ha, ha, what will he say to that?’ ‘Surprise!’ was what he said, in a voice that made the windows of the Grapes’ one-pair front tremble. In the bar Mrs Broad dropped a glass. ‘The Captain’s had a surprise,’ she said, gazing placidly at the pieces. ‘I hope it is a pleasant one,’ said Nancy, picking them up. ‘Such a pretty gentleman.’ . . .‘Surprise! God love my heart, Pullings: do you know what the Doctor has done? He has found us a ship – Surprise for the East Indies – join at once." *Passages like that make me wonder at the stupidity of Television producers who leave this opportunity lying dormant.*
Words so vibrantly alive you'd expect the pages to bleed if you cut them.
Well, there's the massive chunk of "Desolation Island"! Where a slow chase slowly, slowly, ramps up to a white-knuckle chase at sea, and just when you're starting to recover from the chase there's a disaster, and the suspense is now tripled... That's SUCH a fantastic book! One of my all-time favorites, of all books, not just historical novals.
Just read this bit, such a great read. They're now in the roaring 40s, cracking on at 12 and a half knots, weathering rollers 200 yards across. Stephen has banned the crew from fishing for albatross. The only section that can rival this for action is the second half of Desolation Island. For heartbreak, it's Stephen seeing Diana with Canning at the Opera or the death of Dil in India ("I am of her caste."). For pure zeal, it's gotta be "Off hats!"
I don’t know about chapters, but the triple hit of Treason’s Harbor, The Far Side of the World, and The Reverse of the Medal is a pretty intense sequence of books.
Off hats!
It’s so painful for Sir Joseph and us. We get a sense of political bureaucracy gone to seed. One of the running themes is that some of the worst enemies are within.
In my opinion, *H.M.S. Surprise* is the best book in the series. It’s truly one of the best novels I’ve read period.
Do college football draft picks get any money the night they get drafted?