I have 60 years of reading to draw upon: naval memoirs, dispatches, the Naval Chronicles, family letters. Patrick O'Brian More Quotes by Patrick O'Brian More Quotes From Patrick O'Brian In my case, I write in the past because I'm not really part of the present. I have nothing valid to say about anything current, though I have something to say about what existed then. Patrick O'Brian present say nothing past The function of the novel is the exploration of the human condition. Really, that's what it's all about. Patrick O'Brian human about function exploration On a ship, everything is enclosed: the people are right on top of each other and can't get up and walk away. Patrick O'Brian ship walk everything people
