0100,0100,0100I have just started reading William Butcher's excellent new
annotated translation "The Adventures of Captain Hatteras" in
the Oxford World's Classics series and was impressed by the
similarities between the opening chapters of this book and Les
Forceurs de blocus. Some of the similarities are;
1. The description of the ship building process is detailed as is
the place of construction (Birkenhead in the case of the
Forward and Glasgow for the Delphin...both on estuaries
leading to the North Atlantic). In both cases the names of the
shipbuilders are given (Scott and Co. for the Forward and
Tod and McGregor for the Delphin)
2. Technical detail of the engines, speed, tonnage are given as
are certain unusual features which give rise to speculation by
the watching crowds ( the cutting edge on the bow of the
Forward, the two independent propellers on the Delphin). The
manufacturers of these special features are named and were
real, not imaginary companies.
3. In both instances, the vessels are orderd by wealthy
individuals (Vincent Playfair and Hatteras) and each has a
specific, secret project in mind.
4. The launch of the Delphin and the sailing of the Forward
are accompanied by large crowds with much guesswork as to
their function and destination.
5. Both vessels leave the estuaries accompanied by a pilot
who leaves the ships at the approach to the open Atlantic and
the start of the adventure proper.
There are some differences between the vessels reflecting their
intended purpose. The Delphin is much larger, swifter and
more manoeuvrable than the Forward...reflecting the need to
hold a large cargo and to outrun the blocus. The Forward is a
smaller but very strong vessel to resist the force of ice. But it
could be argued that from the point of view of establishing the
structure of the plot, there are remarkable similarities between
the two novels.
Christian Robin has noted the similarities between Les
Forceurs du blocus and Les Enfants du Capitaine Grant,
especially the descriptions of the Clyde estuary (both
published at approximately the same time). But equally it
could be argued that there are close similarities with Captain
Hatteras, published only two years later. Specifically the
notion of launching a "mysterious" ship for a "mysterious" and
secret destination was an almost identical literary device for
"launching" the narrative, in effect recycled in three successive
novels over a couple of years. Perhaps this observation has
already been made?
Ian Thompson