The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian
The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian shares the title of the movie starring Russel Crowe - "Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World". The movie does not follow the book. Rather it is an amalgam of all the Aubrey/Maturin Books distilled by a script writer. Is it successful? Hard core Patrick O'Brian fans may not think so, but it is one of the best sea movies made yet and the amount of work and realism in the movie is quite fantastic. Get the double DVD to see how they made it You can get the book as well - The Making of Master and Commander . Director Peter Weir is actually a Patrick O'Brian fan himself and sailed on the Endeavour so he has a lot of credibility. Plus he is a brilliant director and has made a great movie.
The book, The Far Side of the World starts in Gibraltar where the last book( Treason's Harbour) ends. Jack Aubrey has been given a command to go into the Pacific Ocean to intercept the Norfolk an American frigate with thirty two guns. She had a much heavier broadside than the Surprise and only carried four long guns. The Norfolk is to sail from Boston to convey some merchant ships to San Martin, Opopesa, San Salvador, and Bueonos Aires. The Surprise is meant to cut the Norfolk off before she rounds the Horn. So the Surprise leaves Gibraltar with Cape Trafalgar to starboard and Spartel to the port on a topgallant north-north-west breeze.
In The Far Side Of The World, Mr Allen tells the crew about his whaling trip with Captain Colnett in the Rattler. In the winter of 1792, they set out and raised Madeira in 18 days, then Ferro nine days later. They pick up the trades in 4 degrees north up to 19 degrees South, crossing the equator in 25 degrees 30' West. They ran into Rio Di Janeiro a fortnight later and were laid up to set up rigging and caulking. Then to Staten Island , Cape Horn, Diego Ramirez Islands, around Tierra del Fuego , then off the coast of Chile, seeing sperm whales in 40 degrees South, and then Mocha Island. They sailed along the Chile coast until 26 degrees South and then sailed for St Felix and St Ambrose Islands, 150 leagues to the west. Then along the coast of Peru to Point St Helena at 2 degrees South, then off to the Galapagos Islands. They call in at Chatham and Hood Islands, return to South American coast on a west wind, then North to the Cocos Islands, Guatemala, Socorro, Roca Partida, the Gulf of California, Cape St lucas, the Tres Marias, back around the Horn, St Helena, Eddystone, Portland, then home to Cowes Road on the Isle of Wight.
Meanwhile, aboard the Surprise they go past Tenerife, pick up the trade winds in 28 degrees 15' North. And get becalmed by the Doldrums about 6 degrees North, heading for Cape St Roque the eastern tip of Brazil, where they were to wait for the Norfolk. They lay up in the San Francisco River then head down into the South Atlantic Ocean to 49 degrees South, 63 degrees West, laying course for Staten Island, the Cape St John, round the horn to Cumberland Bay on Juan Fernandez Island. The Surprise makes the channel between Albemarle and Narborough Islands in the Galapagos. They then head west for the Marquesas Islands but 400 miles east of Huahiva run into a hilly little island with reefs running to the north-east and south-west on the outer edge of a lagoon. It is Old Sodbury's Island, named after an old whaler. Here ends The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian.
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Far Side of World
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