Oh, that's a fascinating essay you linked; I'll obviously have to make time to read the book at some point.

And I almost regret having spilled so many pixels about Hornblower at you, for I am not altogether clear on which sentiment of his biggest fans you meant to reference!

But what a piteous passage! And just to check that I have everyone's names rightly, that 'David' there is the Biblical David, of Jonathan fame, yes?