RE: [Marxism] "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"

["Jack Cade" <jack.cade@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

        Patrick O'Brian and CS Forester are contemporary writers of the
heyday of the 'wooden walls of England'. Earlier ones, who served in the
Napoleonic wars were Captain Basil Hall and Frederick Marryat (1792-1848)
author of 'Frank Mildmay'; 'Peter Simple'; 'Mr Midshipman Easy' and
'Percival Keene'. He was, of course, also author of 'The Children of the New
Forest'.

        Marryat, still popular today, was a reactionary who despised the
'lower deck' and believed in the right of the officer class to command and
of the aristocracy to rule. He served for 3 years in the Med under Captain
Thomas Cochrane, a courageous and talented officer and a model for many of
his captains. Cochrane became a radical parliamentarian and worked with
Cobbett against corruption in the army and navy. He was a supporter of
universal suffrage. His campaigns led him to be demoted in the Royal Navy
(he was an MP while still a naval officer), he was framed for fraud, left
the RN and became commander of the Chilean Navy. William IV pardoned him and
he ended up a Rear Admiral back in the RN and Earl of Dundonald (title he
inherited).

Jack



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