Peter Simple

Frederick Marryat

Description

Peter Simple (1834) is a novel by Frederick Marryat. Inspired by the author’s experience as a captain in the Royal Navy, Peter Simple is a tale of bravery, foolishness, and the manifold reasons for men to take to the high seas. Frequently funny, often profound, Marryat’s novel is an underappreciated classic of nineteenth century fiction. “If I cannot narrate a life of adventurous and daring exploits, fortunately I have no heavy crimes to confess: and, if I do not rise in the estimation of the reader for acts of gallantry and devotion in my country’s cause, at least I may claim the merit of zealous and persevering continuance in my vocation.” Rejected by his aristocratic family, Peter Simple sets out to sea to prove himself as a midshipman in the Royal Navy. As he rises through the ranks with the help of a veteran sailor and makes a name for himself during the fierce fighting of the Napoleonic Wars, Peter discovers new depths to his fortitude and experiences things he would never have seen on land. Adapted for a 1957 BBC television series, Peter Simple is considered one of the most accurate portrayals of naval life during the Napoleonic era. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Frederick Marryat’s Peter Simple is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

Sujets

• Marina Real Británica
• 19th century
• Military
• Napoleonic Wars
• War
• Royal Navy
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Mint Editions
• Date de parution: 03 août 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781513294308
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Peter Simple
Frederick Marryat
 
 
Peter Simple was first published in 1834.
This edition published by Mint Editions 2021.
ISBN 9781513291451 | E-ISBN 9781513294308
Published by Mint Editions®

minteditionbooks.com
Publishing Director: Jennifer Newens
Design & Production: Rachel Lopez Metzger
Project Manager: Micaela Clark
Typesetting: Westchester Publishing Services
C ONTENTS V OLUME I I. The great advantage of being the fool of the family—My destiny is decided, and I am consigned to a stockbroker as part of His Majesty’s sea stock—Unfortunately for me Mr. Handycock is a bear, and I get very little dinner II. Fitting out on the shortest notice—Fortunately for me, this day Mr. Handycock is a bear, and I fare very well—I set off for Portsmouth—Behind the coach I meet a man before the mast—He is disguised with liquor, but is not the only disguise I fall in with in my journey III. I am made to look very blue at the Blue Posts—Find wild spirits around, and, soon after, hot spirits within me; at length my spirits overcome me Call to pay my respects to the Captain, and find that I had had the pleasure of meeting him before—No sooner out of one scrape than into another IV. I am taught on a cold morning, before breakfast, how to stand fire, and thus prove my courage—After breakfast I also prove my gallantry—My proof meets reproof—Woman at the bottom of all mischief—By one I lose my liberty, and, by another, my money V. I am introduced to the quarter-deck and first lieutenant, who pronounces me very clever—Trotted below to Mrs. Trotter—Connubial bliss in a cock-pit—Mr. Trotter takes me in as a mess-mate—Feel very much surprised that so many people know that I am the son of—my father VI. Puzzled with very common words—Mrs. Trotter takes care of my wardrobe—A matrimonial duet, ending con strepito VII. Scandalum magnatum clearly proved—I prove to the captain that I consider him a gentleman, although I had told him the contrary, and I prove to the midshipmen that I am a gentleman myself—They prove their gratitude by practising upon me, because practice makes perfect VIII. My messmates show me the folly of running in debt—Duty carried on politely—I become acquainted with some gentlemen of the home department—The episode of Sholto M’Foy IX. We post up to Portsdown Fair—Consequence of disturbing a lady at supper—Natural affection of the pelican, proved at my expense—Spontaneous combustion at Ranelagh Gardens—Pastry versus Piety—Many are bid to the feast; but not the halt, the lame, or the blind X. A pressgang; beaten off by one woman—Dangers at Spithead and Point—A treat for both parties, of pulled chicken , at my expense—Also gin for twenty—I am made a prisoner: escape and rejoin my ship XI. O’Brien takes me under his protection—The ship’s company are paid, so are the bumboat-women, the Jews, and the emancipationist after a fashion—We go to sea— Doctor O’Brien’s cure for sea-sickness—One pill of the doctor’s more than a dose XII. New theory of Mr. Muddle remarkable for having no end to it—Novel practice of Mr. Chucks—O’Brien commences his history—There were giants in those days—I bring up the master’s night-glass XIII. The first lieutenant prescribes for one of his patients, his prescriptions consisting of draughts only—O’Brien finishes the history of his life, in which the proverb of “the more the merrier” is sadly disproved— Shipping a new pair of boots causes the unshipping of their owner—Walking home after a ball, O’Brien meets with an accident XIV. The first lieutenant has more patients—Mr. Chucks the Boatswain, lets me into the secret of his gentility XV. I go on service and am made prisoner by an old lady, who, not able to obtain my hand, takes part of my finger as a token—O’Brien rescues me—A lee shore and narrow escape XVI. News from home—A fatigue party employed at Gibraltar—More particulars in the life of Mr. Chucks—A brush with the enemy—A court-martial and a lasting impression XVII. Mr. Chucks’s opinion on proper names—He finishes his Spanish tale—March of intellect among the Warrant Officers XVIII. I go away on service, am wounded and taken prisoner with O’Brien—Diamond cut diamond between the O’Briens—Get into comfortable quarters—My first interview with Celeste XIX. We remove to very unpleasant quarters—Birds of a feather won’t always flock together—O’Brien cuts a cutter midshipman, and gets a taste of French steel—Altogether flat work—A walk into the interior XX. O’Brien fights a duel with a French officer, and proves that the great art of fencing is knowing nothing about it—We arrive at our new quarters, which we find very secure XXI. O’Brien receives his commission as lieutenant, and then we take French leave of Givet XXII. Grave consequences of gravitation—O’Brien enlists himself as a gendarme, and takes charge of me—We are discovered, and obliged to run for it—The pleasures of a winter bivouac XXIII. Exalted with our success, we march through France without touching the ground—I become feminine—We are voluntary conscripts XXIV. What occurred at Flushing, and what occurred when we got out of Flushing XXV. O’Brien parts company to hunt for provisions, and I have other company in consequence of another hunt—O’Brien pathetically mourns my death and finds me alive—We escape XXVI. Adventures at home—I am introduced to my grandfather—He obtains employment for O’Brien and myself, and we join a frigate XXVII. Captain and Mrs. To—Pork—We go to Plymouth, and fall in with our old Captain XXVIII. We get rid of the pigs and piano-forte—The last boat on shore before sailing—The First Lieutenant too hasty, and the consequences to me XXIX. A long conversation with Mr. Chucks—The advantage of having a prayer-book in your pocket—We run down the trades—Swinburne, the quartermaster, and his yarns—The Captain falls sick XXX. Death of Captain Savage—His funeral—Specimen of true Barbadian born—Sucking the monkey—Effects of a hurricane VOLUME II XXXI. Captain Kearney—The dignity ball XXXII. I am claimed by Captain Kearney as a relation—Trial of skill between first lieutenant and captain with the long bow—The shark, the pug-dog, and the will—A quarter-deck picture XXXIII. Another set-to between the captain and first lieutenant—Cutting-out expedition—Mr. Chucks mistaken—He dies like a gentleman—Swinburne begins his account of the battle off St. Vincent XXXIV. O’Brien’s good advice—Captain Kearney again deals in the marvellous XXXV. Swinburne continues his narrative of the battle off Cape St. Vincent XXXVI. A letter from Father M’Grath, who diplomatizes—When priest meets priest, then comes the tug of war—Father O’Toole not to be made a tool of XXXVII. Captain Kearney’s illness—He makes his will, and devises sundry ch â teaux en Espagne for the benefit of those concerned—The legacy duty in this instance not ruinous—He signs, seals, and dies XXXVIII. Captain Horton—Gloomy news from home—Get over head and ears in the water, and find myself afterwards growing one way, and my clothes another—Though neither as rich as a Jew, nor as large as a camel, I pass through my examination, which my brother candidates think passing strange XXXIX. Is a chapter of plots—Catholic casuistry in a new cassock—Plotting promotes promotion—A peasant’s love and a peer’s peevishness—Prospects of prosperity XL. O’Brien and myself take a step each, pari passu —A family reunion productive of anything but unity—My uncle not always the best friend XLI. Pompous obsequies—The reading of the will, not exactly after Wilkie—I am left a legacy—What becomes of it—My father, very warm, writes a sermon to cool himself—I join O’Brien’s brig, and fall in with Swinburne XLII. We sail for the West Indies—A volunteer for the ship refused and set on shore again, for reasons which the chapter will satisfactorily explain to the reader XLIII. Description of the Coast of Martinique—Popped at for peeping—No heroism in making oneself a target—Board a miniature Noah’s Ark, under Yankee colours—Capture a French slaver—Parrot soup in lieu of mock turtle XLIV. Money can purchase anything in the new country—American information not always to be depended upon—A night attack; we are beaten off—It proves a cut up , instead of a cut out —After all, we save something out of the fire XLV. Some remarkable occurrences take place in the letter of marque—Old friends with improved faces—The captor a captive; but not carried away, though the captive is, by the ship’s boat—The whole chapter a mixture of love, war, and merchandise XLVI. O’Brien tells his crew that one Englishman is as good as three Frenchmen on salt water—They prove it—We fall in with an old acquaintance, although she could not be considered as a friend XLVII. I am sent away after prizes, and meet with a hurricane—Am driven on shore, with the loss of more than half my men—Where is the Rattlesnake? XLVIII. The devastation of the hurricane—Peter makes friends—At destroying or saving, nothing like British seamen—Peter meets with General O’Brien, much to his satisfaction—Has another meeting still more so—A great deal of pressing of hands, “and all that,” as Pope says XLIX. Broken ribs not likely to produce broken hearts—O’Brien makes something very like a declaration of peace—Peter Simple actually makes a declaration of love—Rash proceedings on all sides L. Peter Simple first takes a command, then three West Indiamen, and twenty prisoners—One good turn deserves another—The prisoners endeavour to take him, but are themselves taken in LI. Peter turned out of his command by his vessel turning bottom up—A cruise on a main-boom, with sharks en attendant —Self and crew, with several flying fish, taken on board a negro boat—Peter regenerates by putting on a new outward man LII. Good sense in Swinburne—No man a hero to his valet de chambre, or a prophet in his own country—O’Brien takes a step by strategy—O’Brien parts with his friend, and Peter’s star no longer in the ascendant LIII. I am pleased with my new captain—Obtain le