Slow Learner "Introduction" and O'Brian Reference in Mason & Dixon

[Richard Romeo]

I wonder if with a large crew that individuals had one job assigned to
them
Considering many were forced on board there were probably many sailors
who didn't have a clue about sailing

I would guess in today's modern navies, with the division of labor, that
many don't know how to sail

Fwiw...

David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas is getting Pynchon/GR comparisons--hope
it's better than ghostwritten or number 9 dream

Richard 


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
Behalf Of davemarc
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 11:16 AM
To: Pynchlist
Subject: Slow Learner "Introduction" and O'Brian Reference in Mason &
Dixon

In the Slow Learner "Introduction," Pynchon writes about feigning
expertise
in his fiction.

In Mason & Dixon, he seems to offer an affectionate nod to historical
novelist Patrick O'Brian: "Not only does O'Brian know all there is to
know
and more 'pon the Topick of Euphroes, and Rigging even more obscure,--
he's
also acknowleg'd as the best Yarn-Spinner in all the Fleets."

Now there's a BBC story challenging Patrick O'Brian's expertise:

Patrick O'Brian: Could he sail? An associate says not
The late Patrick O'Brian's celebrated maritime novels inspired legions
of
fans to venture on to the ocean waves. But fresh evidence suggests the
legendary writer couldn't even sail.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3570988.stm

d.