Nelson & His World

Discussion on the life and times of Admiral Lord Nelson
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 Post subject: Fiddlers and Whores
PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 2:14 pm 
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Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 11:43 am
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Location: Malta, G.C.
Here's an interesting read just received, Fiddlers and Whores, The Candid Memoirs of a Surgeon in Nelson's Fleet, by James Lowry Published by Chatham Publishing.


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 Post subject: Re: Fiddlers and Whores
PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 4:49 pm 
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Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:06 am
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Location: mid-Wales
Agreed! This is a lively read by an Irish surgeon in Nelson's navy 1797-1804, full of fascinating details of his service. I have never heard any mention before, for example, of the deliberate 'prank' by Carraciolo's friends that caused Carraciolo's body to appear with the aim of terrifying the king. Lowry mentions that the King had 'ordered....him hanged'. Since the memoir was a private one, not intended for publication, his aim was not to exonerate Nelson; he merely records the event and this detail in passing, to explain why it was done.

He also writes of the actions he was engaged in; includes 'rough sketches' of exotic animals he encountered, and vivid descriptions of the beautiful ladies he met in the brothels of Naples. He is a strange mixture of the lascivious and priggish - he intersperses his comments on the ladies' charms with earnest Biblical quotations and mournful regrets that they have come to this - without, apparently, any sense of irony, considering his own presence there!

The book is by Chatham and is available on Amazon - very cheaply if you're happy with a used copy.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiddlers-Whores ... 891&sr=8-1

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 Post subject: Re: Fiddlers and Whores
PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:31 pm 
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Another hard to put down book is The Floating Brothel, by Sian Rees, Published by Review. Recommended to anyone and an incredible ending. A must have in any Naval library.

Stephen


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 Post subject: Re: Fiddlers and Whores
PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:00 pm 
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You cost me money, Stephen - have just ordered the Sian Rees - the huge sum of £0.01 on Amazon!! What a snip. (£2.75 postage, though.)

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 Post subject: Re: Fiddlers and Whores
PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:46 pm 
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Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 11:43 am
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Location: Malta, G.C.
Anna,

I went looking for his grave a number of years ago in Edinburgh, and found the location, looking for someone else!! I await your comments! Rest assured one of the great reads of recent times!


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