Hornblower vs. Jack Aubrey

Well after having watched the BBC series of Hornblower I preceded to read through most of C.S. Foresters books (they are surprisingly hard to get ahold of here in Australia) and enjoyed them very much.

My father needed a couple of extra books to order through the "Folio Society" to keep his membership up, and some of the Patrick O'Brian books were in the catalogue so I got those.

Having read the first book, Master and Commander, I have to say I was quite put off by the seemingly rather blunt and obvious ways that Patrick had used to distinguish his character from Hornblower, especially very early on in the book.

Firstly his great love of music, the first scene where he meets Maturin at the concert seemed very... staged. One of Hornblowers main traits was that he was completely tone deaf and got no enjoyment from music Jack seems to be the exact opposite (even going on about how a pack of dogs howling was musically pleasing to his ears). His ugly, fat and bald appearance, vs. Hornblower being quite handsome, thin and full hair (until much later). His love of the drink vs. Hornblower's hatred of being drunk. Hornblowers inward nature rather than Aubrey pouring his heart out to Maturin all the time. Hornblowers amazing bad luck with prizes vs. Jacks amazing good luck with them. Aubrey fooling around with women all the time (having it off with his superiors wife), vs. Hornblower being very respectful of marriage and not fooling around (I still don't know how Hornblower married his second wife though, haven't gotten that book yet, but I would assume through deaths). The list goes on... There are some similarities as there are with all heroes. Courage, Duty, etc. But in every sort of "optional" trait, appearance, likes/dislikes/etc, Jack is an absoloute polar opposite to Hornblower.

I mean I know that Aubrey needed to be different to Hornblower, for obvious reasons, but a lot of it just reads as very staged to me. Like he is always trying to emphasize just how different Jack is from Horatio. It was still a good book, but I wish he had been a bit more subtle about it rather than just going like "OK, Hornblower hated music so Aubrey will love it", "Hornblower is thin, so Jack will be fat", etc, etc. Towards the middle and end of the books were he settled down from doing this all the time I found the book much better reading. Presumably the other books will have less of it, thank god, so I will continue with the series, but I found the first 50 pages a real struggle.

I'd never really thought about comparing their personal traits like that. An interesting analysis (and your assumption about the second wife is correct)

You've only encountered two characters in this genre so, while I can understand your coming to this conclusion, I think you will see as you read more series from other authors, that your thesis does not really hold true.

I don't believe that O'Brian was consciously trying to create the antithesis of Hornblower, because I really don't think that he "had to" as you say. There are many HNF series with main characters along the entire spectrum of the characteristics you cite, from the Nelsonesque Bolitho, Ramage and Hornblower, to the anti-heroic Lewrie and Jerrold, and all the ones in-between. Many of these series pre-dated O'Brian's, so I doubt he was under any onus to differentiate Aubrey from Hornblower: there simply wasn't any need to.

I think the quirks you mention, love of music, for example, were simply traits used to create a unique, or perhaps more correctly: recognizable, character, as well as allowing O'Brian to indulge his passion for the music of the period.

In addition, these men spent months and years on small, crowded ships without setting foot on land: it's not surprising that they would pick up hobbies to help them pass the time. In one of the books I recently read (Frank Tilsley's Mutiny on which the movie Damn The Defiant was based), the captain of the ship kept a flower garden in his quarters

Yes, these characters no doubt drawn to create unique personas within the context of the genre. Lewrie keeps cats, plays the flute (poorly), chases (or is chased by) women and is sometimes a berserker in combat.

conaghan wrote:Yes, these characters no doubt drawn to create unique personas within the context of the genre. Lewrie keeps cats, plays the flute (poorly), chases (or is chased by) women and is sometimes a berserker in combat.

Yes, it was Lewrie's weakness for cats (despite his initial disavowal of any affection for the species) that drew me to him and kept me coming back for more. yes, I'm a cat-lover myself

BTW, Ziggy, I think you will very much enjoy the Ramage (Dudley Pope) and Bolitho (Alexander Kent) series. They are much more in the Hornblower vein.

Astrodene wrote:... your assumption about the second wife is correct).

However, neither Hornblower nor Forester turn out to be exactly saints. Keep your eyes open ...

Bob,

I neglected to mention in my earlier post Lewrie's skill with his Ferguson breech-loading rifle and his preference for casual dress - - wearing slops and a wide-brim hat, at least when the top brass aren't around.

Conaghan

conaghan wrote:Bob,

I neglected to mention in my earlier post Lewrie's skill with his Ferguson breech-loading rifle and his preference for casual dress - - wearing slops and a wide-brim hat, at least when the top brass aren't around.

Conaghan

Yes, Dewey has certainly created a memorable character. It's too bad the TMI factor turns so many readers away from this enjoyable series. I almost gave up on it myself ... one does not expect porn in an HNF novel. Frankly, I'm not sure why it was necessary to go into such detail. But this is drifting off topic.

I can definately see how someone reading these two series might think O'Brian made Jack Aubrey as the antithesis of Hornblower, but I don't think it was deliberate on his part. As you read both series - particularly O'Brian's - you get a better feel for the characters. While it's true Jack is in many ways the opposite of Horatio, he has similarities. As the books progress you find that Jack evolves from an intuitive sailor into a scientific one with a deep love of hydrography and navigation. In fact, he becomes a member of the Royal Society and reads papers on nutation to great success.

In looking at their characters, though, the biggest difference in them comes from something that happened in Jack's past. As a midshipmen, he was turned before the mast and spent six months as a common sailor. That experience made him much more aware of what the "lower deck" is like, how they think, and what makes them happy. It took some of the edge of Jack's view of the officers as superior to the sailors, and it's something that helps him throughout his career. Hornblower doesn't have that experience, and remains something of a stick in the mud throughout his career without it. Also, Jack is written as a very sensual individual, and not just from the sexual standpoint. He loves the simple pleasures of good food, good drink, good music, thrilling sailing in high winds, and a good fight with an honoroble foe. And, of course, he loves the ladies. But he also genuinely loves his men, and through the series you get to see the lengths he goes to in order to take care of them, whether it's feeding and educating his young midshipmen or using his influence to get his subordinates promoted...promotions he always feels genuine joy and pleasure at hearing of.

I've read all of both series multiple times, and never seem to get tired of them, but I have to say I prefer O'Brian much more. His characters are richer, far more likeable, and his dialogue is consistenly intelligent and witty...in fact, it's downright hilarious at times. Havin the character of Stephen Maturin helps tremendously as well, giving O'Brian the regular opportunity for dialogue between his main characters that Forester doesn't get. Hornblower has no really close freind to talk to or open up to, and it limits his character's development.

To the OP, if you haven't read more of the Aubrey series, you really should. They get better, and the middle part of the series - say, books 4 through 15 - are just plain excellent.

Sorry I'm late to this party, I've wasted more than a Minute. I haven't read all the series, but am familiar with Hornblower, Bolitho and Aubrey. Let's not forget some bare commercial facts; after Forester's death, POB was asked by Norton, Hornblower's publisher, to write a similar series which could be marketed to the same niche. POB was faced with the difficult task of continuing on while being different. Try to imagine how loyal Aubrey-Maturin fans would greet a new series tomorrow. We'd buy the first book for sure, but the next and the next? I think POB did a marvelous job of treating the same period in a very different manner, basically focusing on the "background" and leaving the main focus of most naval fiction, great sea battles, to the background. And forcing you to learn about the strange new world and language you are suddenly surrounded by. In some ways its like asking which is better soused pigs face or the Port with the yellow seal?
Medusa, 0

Ok, I'll throw my two cents in. I think both points of view are right, Hornblower and Aubrey are alike, and different. They share qualities of bravery, loyalty and are both great leaders. To me the big differences aren't in thick/thin, music/no music, but in their relationship with the world around them. Both are intellegent, capable men, but where Aubrey tends to meet the world head on, unafraid, Hornblower is more introverted and self-doubting. The differences are far more evident to me at the beginning of each series and each character grows towards each other. In the end, they become more alike. I think an above post mentioned Aubrey's joining the Royal Society and Hornblower's second marriage are good examples. I love both series, because I love to see the growth of the characters. I think O'Brian does a little better job of showing the growth, because he grows the surrounding characters (ie Maturin) along with him.

Anyway, I tend to gravate to book series as opposed to stand alone books because I like to see character developement and like to get invested in the characters.

We may want to consider the notion that POB made choices about Aubrey's traits based not on differentiating from HH, but for internal reasons, especially the need to develop characteristics that complement his foil, Maturin. As DasBoot hinted, part of the richness of the POB series is having Maturin as a second "main" character. HH had his stalwart lieutenant (see? I can't even remember his name), but there is nothing to compare with Maturin. POB may well have started with this character (intellectual, scientist, physician, continental) and built JA to fit with him. After all, he wrote The Catalans, which features a character remarkably like a 20th century Maturin, 15 years before he began the Aubrey books.

"HH had his stalwart lieutenant (see? I can't even remember his name), "

That would be Lt. Bush. Most of the action in "Lieutenant Hornblower" involves Bush, and the reader sees HH from his viewpoint.

Medusa, is there anywhere I can read more about the background of the birth of the Aubrey-Maturin series? I was unaware of this desire to pick up where Forrester left off. After all, Forrester was not not exclusively an Age Of Sail author. He wrote many novels that had nothing to do with that genre.

conaghan wrote:
That would be Lt. Bush. Most of the action in "Lieutenant Hornblower" involves Bush, and the reader sees HH from his viewpoint.

Right, right, Bush. Thank you Conaghan. Such an easy name to forget...

That would be Lt. Bush. Most of the action in "Lieutenant Hornblower" involves Bush, and the reader sees HH from his viewpoint.

Yes; quite a digression for a series to feature one book from another's POV, although, being the only book that included both characters, and had Bush as the superior officer, I can see why he did it.

There is an "unauthorised" bio of O'Brian by Dean King, which sheds a lot of light on the creation of the series. The subject does not come through terribly well, however.

Incidentally, somewhere in the depths I seem to recall hearing that Gene Roddenberry based the character for James T Kirk in Star Trek on Hornblower - can anyone verify this, or am I starting to wander (again)?

Bob,

That is a good question!. I've been slowly growing my addiction over the last 15 years or so. There are several POB related websites, and the publisher Norton books has a POB site. I think the info might be there. Without belaboring the point, there is a commercial aspect to all this, and any successful product makes changes to increase market share, at least a partial explanation for evolution of the characters. I mean this only as a compliment. Many of my favorite authors, Conan-Doyal, Asimov, Heinlein, were very proud of being "professional" writers, IE getting paid.
I've always found a reflection of Holmes-Watson in Aubrey-Maturin, but then I see that in Kirk-Spock also. When I first read POB, back in the early nineties, I dismissed it as "Star Trek under sail", except for technology, there are a lot of similarities in the "set up" of the series. But then Hornblower is specifically mentioned by Roddenberry as a prototype for Kirk. Historically Capt. Hamilton was close friends with his Surgeon M'Millan (?). Hamilton commanded the Surprise when the Hermione was retaken. He installed the 36 gun main mast. M'Millen commanded one of the boats in the Hermione cutting out expedition. And just to add pointless arcane facts: Surprise was one of the ships shelling Ft Mc Henry, leading to the Star Spangled Banner. It wasn't OUR Surprise, being the follow on vessel built in 1912, but interesting non the less. Anyway, there is historical as well as fictional background for Captain-Surgeon friendship.

Lou

Sorry, I don't get as much time to play as I'd like. That nasty work thing gets in the way.

In the early 70's, my roommate was seriously interested in Star Trek. Back then, it was mostly a cancelled TV series, although it was syndicated, and six o'clock found most of the floor in the lounge to watch, as much for company as the show. Anyway, Ed had a "Making of Star Trek" paperback. Interviews with Roddenberry, and copies of memos etc. It mentions the Hornblower connection and "Wagon train to the Stars" as Gene's way of selling the series. Of course to a nineteen year old, the past is a strange country. I found Hornblower in the dark recesses of the library, old books with yellowed pages. It is/was hard for me to imagine how popular that series was, best sellers, "A" list movie stars (Gregory Peck!), etc.
Back when I read SHOGUN (James Clavell), I thought it was science fiction dressed up as history. A voyage to the edges of known space, in an advanced technology vessel, arriving in a land not believed to exist. Strange looking natives, unable to communicate, strange weapons, strange food and of course odd looking but still beautiful women. Years and years later I realized it was the other way around. Theory says there are only seven basic plots etc etc. I have always been struck by the similarities between "High Noon" and "Dirty Harry", one made in the HUAC 50's one made in the riotous 60's. And yet both pit one brave man against a monster intent on destroying society. In both, the power structure is against the hero getting involved, neither hero has a partner he can count on, both use methods frowned upon by society (Will Cain shoots bad guys in the back and sets a business on fire, Harry uses torture and other unsavory methods), both save society from itself, and both are disgusted by the evil required to make good triumph. The point of view is from opposite ends of the political spectrum and both tell the same story, which is Horatio at the Bridge. To a modern audience, Gary Cooper shooting someone is the back is no big deal, but in 1952?
Just this week I "found" some books about the last commercial sailing ships. Capt. Alan Villiers sailed several square riggers in the 30's -50's, and wrote numerous books about his adventures. He also was head of the "Cutty Sark" preservation museum for a while. I have no doubt POB used those books as deep background. The fact that Diana Villiers is a woman, who is constantly seasick seems to be a way of paying homage with a devilish twinkle in his eye. That is the difference between a reader and a writer. To me it's just an oddly shaped stone, to a writer its a stone age arrow head, which got lodged between the ribs of a woolley mammoth, and thereby hangs a tale. Sorry for the extended post.
Lou

I have yet to go through the O'Brian books (and still have some from the Hornblower series), but as far as I am, I see this too. Jack is closer to Kirk (both his womanizer tendency and his build, not to mention he has his own Spock/McCoy hybrid in Stephen), than Kirk to the original Hornblower.

Wish I'd have time to read 'em all, but I'm writing too and (guilty) a certain other series distracts me. It's all DEATH's fault. As soon as I'm finished, I'll jump into MandC and Hornblower.

Maturin also serves as a plot device for O'Brian. Rather than the internal monologues of Forrester's Hornblower, Aubrey gets to have dialogues with another character. Maturin's status as a supernumerary allows Aubrey to open up to him in a way he could not and would not w/ a subordinate.

I have read several Hornblower books (and watched all the movies) but I have to say that I could never care for the Hornblower character. To me that is the main difference between the two series: character. I love how O'Brian has minor characters among the common seaman. I've always found the "men in the ranks" in any military writing to be far more interesting than the officers. I also found more wit in O'Brian's series than Hornblower.

Yes, I agree with much of the above, although I found the character of Hornblower becoming more attractive/ understandable with development. And I still think that Forrester wrote better battles!

Recognizing that for the most part, HH's later career was written before his earlier career. I actually found that I liked the young Hornblower better than what he becomes by the time he commands HMS Lydia. I was particularly a fan of HH as Commander of HMS Hotspur, which happened to be tha last completed Hornblower novel.

I have to assume that Forester's vision of Hornblower was evolving. Unfortunately, having written his life out of chronological order, it seemed to me that the character of HH actually devolved.

That's an interesting point, Joefirefighter. I do agree with you that Forester's writing was improving with time. The character changed also, and although this might be due to an evolving vision, it's fairly easy to justify this within the canon as being the result of Hornblower slowly building up this persona that he felt was essential. It's like he kept adding layers and layers of cold formality until even he couldn't find himself beneath the aristocratic officer anymore.

And Sieglinde, I agree with what you say about Kirk/Spock and Aubrey/Maturin. In that same mold, perhaps Hornblower is a good model for what Spock would have become if he hadn't had his friendship with Kirk. Spock would have kept burying his human side and trying to embrace only logic until he was as ossified as our skinny, stiff upper lip naval hero.

You know, that could be one of the keys to understanding the two series. You can think of the two as showing flip sides of the roll of friendship versus the lonelliness of command. All this makes the Bush friendship all the more tragic. As a lieutenant Horatio could have friendship, but as the Royal Navy captain Hornblower felt he had to wall himself off from friends and the relationship with Bush always had to stay strictly subordinate/superior. He had no one to open up to, and as an introspective person he could not relate to the crew except through projection of a persona. Aubrey always had his friendship with Maturin. He would have had genuinely affable relationships with his officers and crew, but not having Maturin as a sounding board and confidante would have worn at Jack's humanity too. A good historical analogy might be Captain Fitzroy of the Beagle. As an early Victorian naval officer he arguably might have been even more isolated than his Napoleonic counterparts, and he was very aware of the potential for going mad (having received command of his ship after the last captain, in a fit of depression, killed himself). And that's the chief reason he sought out a traveling companion of his own social class who would remain outside the chain of command and could therefore be his Maturin. And that's how Darwin got to see the world.

So that leaves me with the question-- would a Maturin-type friend have helped Hornblower avoid becoming his office. Certainly without such a friend HH, being less garrulous, would not have been able to rise above the strictures imposed both externally and internally. But would he have been able to confide in anyone? I don't know, but even the secretive Maturin could confide in his friend so perhaps there might have been hope for Hornblower after all.