Patrick O'Brian Trivia

1. Jack Byron and Tobias Barrow, the two main characters of "The Unknown Shore", are very similar to O'Brian's later, more famous characters of Jack Aubrey and Steven Maturin. But what major difference is there between the two sets of characters?

From Quiz Patrick O'Brian's "The Unknown Shore"

Answer: An age difference

The Aubrey/Maturin team of O'Brian's later books is strongly hinted at in "The Unknown Shore". However, in "The Unknown Shore", Jack and Toby are teenagers, rather than adults as are Aubrey and Maturin. Jack Byron was actually also a real person, eventually climbing to the rank of Admiral and becoming the grandfather of the poet Lord Byron.

From Quiz Hollywood VS Patrick O'Brian

Answer: Books One and Book Ten

"Master and Commander" is actually O'Brian's title for his first book, whilst "The Far Side of the World" is the title of the tenth installment in the Aubrey/Maturin series. There are very significant elements, including exact quotes, from both novels,(as well as others in the series) which are included in Peter Weir's concept.

From Quiz "Master and Commander" Madness

Answer: Brig

Although the Sophie is considered a brig with her two masts, she can be called a sloop when Captain Aubrey is aboard.

From Quiz Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N.

Answer: Lucky Jack

Jack's luck in prizes and commands won him many friends and created many enemies.

From Quiz Patrick O'Brian's "The Unknown Shore"

Answer: Anson

Commodore Anson became an Admiral after the expedition described in the book. Anson was on a mission to disrupt Spanish trade and capture Spanish ships. He did manage to capture a Manila Galleon laden with gold, but the voyage was disastrous due to the major loss of life among the crew: only about a tenth of the men survived. What Anson did manage, however, was a circumnavigation of the globe in the process. Keppel, later an Admiral himself, is also a character in "The Unknown Shore"; he sailed as a Midshipman on the voyage, and features more in O'Brian's first book in the series, "The Golden Ocean".

From Quiz Hollywood VS Patrick O'Brian

Answer: a mutual interest in music

Stephen and Jack met on page three of "Master and Commander", the first of Patrick O'Brian's novels concerning the intriguing pair. From that page and on, after they disagreed as to the appropriate, public expression of musical appreciation, the two men's past, present, and future were irrevocably intertwined in complexities, adventure and friendship.

From Quiz "Master and Commander" Madness

Answer: Irish and Catalan

Stephen's knowledge of the Mediterranean geography and cultures, where he lived as a boy, proves to be invaluable to Jack.

From Quiz Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N.

Answer: Lieutenant

He is promoted in the early chapters of 'Master and Commander'.

From Quiz Patrick O'Brian's "The Unknown Shore"

Answer: Midshipman

Tobias was going to become a midshipman; he was running away to sea to join his friend Jack after learning of his guardian's marriage to a woman who detested him. However, his incredible knowledge of all things in natural science gained him a position as surgeon's mate. After the surgeon was transferred to a different ship, Toby became the Wager"'s unofficial surgeon.

From Quiz Hollywood VS Patrick O'Brian

Answer: Horatio Lord Nelson, and his interaction with Jack Aubrey

"I've always tried to say it just as he did.." Peter Weir pretty much put Patrick O'Brian's exact words into Russell Crowe's mouth as he entertained his dinner guests with his account of the character and person of Lord Nelson.

From Quiz "Master and Commander" Madness

Answer: Lechery

Jack, always precocious, hid a young girl named Sally aboard the old Reso when he was a mere midshipman.

From Quiz Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N.

Answer: Sophie & Sophia

Sophie is the truly the name of his love, as it is also the name of his first command.

From Quiz Patrick O'Brian's "The Unknown Shore"

Answer: Morris, Campbell, and Cozens

Morris was a young boy who soon became friends with Cozens, a big midshipman with a habit of getting into trouble. Campbell was a Scotsman with a depressing habit of thinking everyone was against him. All three disliked Jack at first because he had his own cabin, rather than living in the cockpit with the rest of them; Campbell became friends with Jack and Toby later, however. These three midshipmen all had different fates...

From Quiz Hollywood VS Patrick O'Brian

Answer: he drinks laudanum in quantity to quiet the demons

"It is unspeakably childish to be upset by the whiff of a scent; but I am upset, and I shall certainly exceed my allowance, to the extent of five hundred drops." He poured himself a wineglassful of laudanum, closed one eye, and drank it off." And poor Stephen is quite often upset.

From Quiz "Master and Commander" Madness

Answer: Lord Nelson

Jack loves to relate the anecdote when the great man himself asked Jack to pass him the salt at dinner.

From Quiz Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N.

Answer: Surprise

Jack had known the dear Surprise since he was a boy.

From Quiz Hollywood VS Patrick O'Brian

Answer: he is a spy for the crown

"Ha ha ha," he laughed, his big voice full of intense amusement, "to think of poor good old Stephen being laid by the heels for a spy! Oh ha ha ha!...My dear sir, surely your men must be a very simple crew to go round suspecting Stephen Maturin." Poor Jack is always the last to know.

From Quiz Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N.

Answer: Rigging the Stock Market

Jack was set up - he was innocent.

From Quiz "Master and Commander" Madness

Answer: poet

The young midshipmen find themselves overwhelmed with hysteria at Mowett's references to the female anatomy.

From Quiz Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N.

Answer: A most becoming buttercup yellow

Jack's long yellow hair was one of his most striking features.

From Quiz Patrick O'Brian's "The Unknown Shore"

Answer: He converts to Catholiscism and moves to Lima

Campbell converts to Catholicism and moves to Lima. He does eventually return to England. Another of the book's real characters, he is also featured in the A&E miniseries "Longitude".

From Quiz Hollywood VS Patrick O'Brian

Answer: while being extracted from France at the resumption of war

Stephen was a pretty good friend. As a British spy, he was in the know that war would be declared with France while he and Jack were the guests of a French captain, and he smuggled his friend out of France disguised as a dancing bear. He also rescued Jack from debtor's prison on more than one occasion, conspired to keep him hidden from debt collectors, used his clout in Naval Intelligence to get Jack ships and profitable missions, and once even bought him a ship. What a pal.

From Quiz "Master and Commander" Madness

Answer: Insider information

Mercedes, she of the lovely bosom, gives Jack information which allows him to capture many merchant ships.

From Quiz Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N.

Answer: Violin & Fiddle

Jack played the violin, while Stephen played the cello.

From Quiz Patrick O'Brian's "The Unknown Shore"

Answer: He writes poetry

Jack writes poetry, which is a hint forward to the real Jack Byron's grandson, Lord Byron. Toby kindly puts up with Jack's recitations, but it is clear that they can be tiring even for him. Jack actually goes to two separate clubs: one for naval officers and one for poets. He tells Toby to never reveal his poetry leaning to his fellows in the Navy.

From Quiz Hollywood VS Patrick O'Brian

Answer: in Port Mahon, being tortured as a suspected spy

Jack's very brave soul had no second thoughts- he took a group of volunteers straight into the lion's den, killed any who stood in his way, and carried his friend out.

From Quiz "Master and Commander" Madness

Answer: He thinks Jack is a coward.

Jack is incredibly brave, but also highly sensible of his responsibilities as captain of one of His Majesty's ships, which Dillon mistakenly interprets as cowardice.

From Quiz Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N.

Answer: Charlotte, Fanny and George

The girls were twins. George was born before Jack even knew he was expected.

From Quiz Patrick O'Brian's "The Unknown Shore"

Answer: 3

Deaths and illnesses among other Captains in the expedition require the "Wager" to change Captains three times, ending with Captain Cheap. Each time a new captain arrives, he changes the Wager's watch routine from two days to three or vice versa, annoying the crew. Captain Cheap is by far the most strict captain of the lot. Although he survives the voyage, he is a changed man by the end of the book, much gentler and quieter.

From Quiz Hollywood VS Patrick O'Brian

Answer: a woman, of course

Jack ignored the telltale signs that the woman he continued to have relations with, Diana Villiers, was the object of Stephen's desperate, unrequited love. It took a horrific battle at sea in which Jack almost died and Stephen came to the rescue before they called one another brother again.

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Last Updated Nov 02 2024 5:47 AM

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