Posted by Jonathan Labaree on October 20, 2003 at 16:06:32 from 207.5.234.19 user JLabaree.
I just started my annual reading of Riddle of the Sands (my wife thinks I’m nuts to re-read the same book ever year when there are countless ones yet to tackle – she’s right, but I can’t help myself).
On their first morning together, during that beautifully described beat up the fjord, Carruthers says to Davies: 'I'm an utter duffer at sailing…'
My question is: is there any chance that this is AR’s inspiration for the wording of the famous cable from Cmdr Walker? or is/was “duffer” a pretty common word to describe the nautically challenged. It’s not a word we hear much on this side of the pond, so it rather stands out.
Aside: This is one of the reasons I reread good books – there is always something new to learn about them – some detail you never noticed. It’s a bit like returning to a favorite place, walking a familiar trail, or sailing in home waters. It’s always fun to go somewhere new and see fresh sights (literally and figuratively) – indeed such excursions are essential to expand the mind and soul. But returning home is equally rewarding. I wonder, too, if the lessons learned at home are maybe a bit more profound only because you can internalize them more completely. This makes me think of a topic that could be another thread. I’ll work on it a bit and perhaps post it…