Many will consider me a slacker because I'm finally getting around to reading what many consider a "must read" but I hope I'll be forgiven. In my defense I have seen the Russell Crow movie of the same name and even seen the real life Sophie as it's berthed in San Diego harbor (although it looks tiny next to modern day US aircraft carriers and was renamed Star of India for the movie).
Even though the movie was not written until 1970, it is easy to get lost in the language from an earlier day and from a naval background far from the usual fictional fare. The last naval novel I read was The Good Shepherd although I struggle to picture Captain Jack Aubrey battling submarines.
Looking forward to finishing this and continuing on in the series.