Adventures abound. Jim shows pluck and courage. Long John Silver a terrific character. Captain Smollett all you'd want in a captain. Malaria, mutiny, marooned Thom Gunn, the Hispaniola piloted by Jim. Knives flying through the air. Israel Hands dead of gunshot and of drowning--at the hands of Jim. One more wonderful hour left. Audible reader is terrific, so good I (almost) don't want to read on my own.
February 1895 (Alice died in 1892) Money problems, jealousy of Wilde; time spent with Lord Wolseley1; off to Ireland to lick his wounds; Irish unrest--Irish landlords boycott all social events; much time spent with manservant Hammond (homosexual attraction again); fancy dress ball, appalling to James, who is only happy in company of Hammond, though Hammond remains a servant and no more; little girl alone on the grounds--inspiration for Turn of the Screw?; conflict with Webster who alludes to Wilde's successful play and HJ's failure; Wolseley was an Anglo-Irish officer in the British Army . He became one of the most influential and admired British generals after a series of successes in Canada, West Africa, and Egypt, followed by a central role in modernizing the British Army in promoting efficiency. He served in Burma, the Crimean War , the Indian Mutiny , China, Canada and widely throughout Africa—including his Ashanti campaign (18...
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