1. Take those Austen novels and pack ‘em away.
2. Drop what you’re doing and head off of to the nearest book store.
3. Buy the complete set of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin novels.
4. Read all twenty volumes sequentially starting with Master and Commander .
5. No need to thank me until you’ve finished them all.
“Come, sir, cannot I prevail upon you to go to sea? A man-of-war is the very thing for a philosopher, above all in the Mediterranean: there are the birds, the fishes—I could promise you some monstrous strange fishes—the natural phenomena, the meteors, the chance of prize-money. For even Aristotle would have been moved by prize-money . . . .”“A ship must be a most instructive theatre for an inquiring mind . . . .”
“Prodigiously instructive, I do assure you, Doctor.”
—Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy convincing Stephen Maturin, natural philosopher, to join him at sea (Patrick O’Brian, Master and Commander )
Time is short, so I’ll be direct: FIRST THINGS needs you. And we need you by December 31 at 11:59 p.m., when the clock will strike zero. Give now at supportfirstthings.com.
First Things does not hesitate to call out what is bad. Today, there is much to call out. Yet our editors, authors, and readers like you share a greater purpose. And we are guided by a deeper, more enduring hope.
Your gift of $50, $100, or even $250 or more will bring this message of hope to many more people in the new year.
Make your gift now at supportfirstthings.com..
First Things needs you. I’m confident you’ll answer the call.
