Saturday, October 21, 2017

A SAD STORY


It is gloomy today, and I have just read one of the most saddening stories I have ever been exposed to.  It is from Chapter 7 of book 14 in the Aubrey-Maturin series, written by Patrick O’Brian.  The book’s name is The Nutmeg of Consolation.  The story involves some polar bears.

Sad though this story is, perversely it raised my spirits a little – after a long time mulling it over.  In the early 19th century the actions described would have been considered perfectly acceptable and natural.  Now, however, in the early 21st century, most of us would regard this kind of behavior as reprehensible and disgusting.  So, my contemplation suggests, maybe -despite all the terrible things that are going on all around us – as individual human beings maybe we have improved a little in the last 200 years.

Nah!  Who am I kidding?


As to the story – you’ll have to read it for yourselves.  In doing so you will gain an introduction to a great series of literature.

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