The folks over at Bourgeois Burglars have written a great post on Mirth in Patrick O’Brian’s series on Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. Though it was an excellent film with one of the best soundtracks in history, it is a shame most people know about these gems through Russell Crowe’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. These tales of the gallant British sea captain, Aubrey, and his battles with the navies of France, Spain, and America reveal a time of honor, courage, culture, and patriotism nearly unheard of in western civilization. I’ve read the first three, and Thorgersen’s post reminded me it is high time to get the next couple on tape from the library. While I go do that, let me leave you with a bit of the review on BB’s website:
As an author O’Brian manages to make characters engaging enough for the reader to take part in their mirth (which simply makes him a good writer), but he also manages to make real mirth a part of life (which potentially makes him a good human being). An even greater task would be to live a life that facilitates mirth in others by allowing it to well up from oneself (which would truly make one a person worth loving). If O’Brian is showing the way, then batten down the hatches, hoist the topgallants and clear for action … but first, a little Corelli and a little port.
Matthew Lee Anderson
Matthew Lee Anderson is an Associate Professor of Ethics and Theology in Baylor University's Honors College. He has a D.Phil. in Christian Ethics from Oxford University, and is a Perpetual Member of Biola University's Torrey Honors College. In 2005, he founded Mere Orthodoxy.
