Form and Content
InCarry On, Mr. Bowditch, Jean Lee Latham presents the formative years and early adulthood of Nathaniel Bowditch, the man who advanced the science of celestial navigation and who prepared what became the bible of navigation: The Practical Navigator (referred to by sailors simply as “Bowditch”). The biography begins with the young Bowditch living with his family in Danvers, Massachusetts, about to move back to Salem, a port so important during the late eighteenth century that it was thought by some in distant ports to be a country itself. The story depicts the unhappy turn that the family fortunes have taken since the boy’s father, a former sea captain, lost a ship at sea and was forced into another trade. Their misfortunes are aggravated by the difficult economic times that the emerging American nation faces during this revolutionary period. The story then presents the events and people that motivated the intellectual and moral growth of Bowditch.
Latham has a fine sense of the significant detail. By alternating summary with such details, she creates chapters that describe events that both shape and reveal Bowditch’s character. The title of the book itself reflects this approach. “Carry on, Mr. Bowditch,” a frequent order to the young sailor from his first commander, Captain Prince, reflects Prince’s appreciation for the young man’s excessive enthusiasm and independent thinking.
Other details are equally descriptive of character. The young Bowditch learns from his older brother, Hab, that “boys don’t blubber.” This advice and example develop in him a self-composure that enables him to control his emotions, first when he is told that he cannot return to school and study mathematics and later when he is told that he has been indentured to Ropes and Hodges Chandlery until he is twenty-one, seemingly eliminating his hopes of graduating from Harvard University. At this point, Sam Smith steps in and initiates the young scholar to self-education by orienting him to the chandlery (which sold supplies and provisions for ocean voyages), by helping him to discover another approach to his situation, and by introducing him to navigation. “Sail by ash breeze,” Smith tells the youngster cheerfully as he shows him how to know the chandlery by keeping a notebook and as he explains the mystery and importance of the ship’s log. The young Bowditch sees that he need not feel “becalmed,” and he develops techniques for learning that do not require a classroom. With an insatiable appetite for learning and an orderly mind, the boy begins one notebook after another: the first on everything in the chandlery, another on navigation, another on everything about ships from caulking to sail making, another on algebra, and another on astronomy.
Just as significant incidents shape Bowditch’s character and provide structure for the biography, so do important people. Before Sam Smith, it is Bowditch’s mother who helps him cope with disappointment by taking him out to look at the stars. He comes to look to the night sky not only for comfort but also for guidance. His sister, Lizzie, finds ways to help her brother look at childish losses in a way that diminishes the sting. Important people in Salem also take an interest in him. Dr. Bentley motivates him by assuming that he can learn difficult material on his own. He lends him his own copy of Sir Isaac Newton’s Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica to read, along with a Latin dictionary and grammar so that he can first translate it. Dr. Holyoke treats the young man as a fellow intellectual and calls him an astronomer, Nathan Read invites him to join a scientific discussion...
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group, and Captain Prince makes available to him a fine private library for his use. Through his own love of learning, his self-discipline, and the help of others, Bowditch has by the age of twenty-one become an extraordinary mathematician, as well as master of Latin and French. He is a student worthy of the honorary degree from Harvard that he will one day receive.
Setting
The primary setting of the novel is Salem, Massachusetts, spanning from the Revolutionary War to the early 1800s. Starting when Nat is just six years old and tracing his journey into adulthood, the story immerses readers in early American life, showcasing the significance of maritime activities to the burgeoning nation. Growing up in a society centered on seafaring, Nat gains knowledge about ships and develops an interest in enhancing navigation techniques. Bowditch travels to numerous ports, sharing his observations on cities from Cadiz, Spain, to Manila in the Philippines.
Literary Qualities
Latham crafts such natural and lively dialogue in Carry On, Mr. Bowditch that it reads like a novel, making readers almost forget its factual foundation. She gives each character unique speech patterns and favorite expressions that effectively convey their attitudes and personalities. For example, Ben Meeker often talks about being "becalmed," a seaman's term for being stuck and unable to move. Zack Selby, on the other hand, frequently mocks "sailing by the book." Through this dialogue, readers come to understand each character's frame of reference and individuality. The dialogue not only emphasizes character but also authentically recreates the speech of America's sailing ship era.
Latham doesn't rely solely on excellent dialogue to give her biographical novel a realistic feel and historical context. For instance, the novel includes certain written documents like Nat's indenture and the letter awarding him an honorary degree from Harvard. Additionally, the narrative often mentions Nat passing by a house with seven gables in Salem, referencing the famous house that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write The House of Seven Gables (1851).
Latham weaves a significant amount of accurate seafaring information into her story. Readers learn alongside Nat, as his conversations with others often explain nautical concepts. Many details about navigation emerge while Nat is at sea, where such knowledge is crucial for survival. The author's enthusiastic tone ensures this information is engaging for the reader.
Though the novel explains many nautical techniques, readers unfamiliar with nautical terms may need to put in some effort to understand what "halyards" are, where the "forecastle" (pronounced fok'cel) is located, and why "rudders" are essential for ships. Even those with some knowledge of these terms may find the text includes some nineteenth-century phrases that are not commonly used today, making a dictionary a useful tool.
For Further Reference
Carlson, Julie. "Jean Lee Latham—'A Memorable Person.'" Elementary English 47 (February 1970): 281-284. This article discusses Latham's work and personal life, based on a recorded interview with the author.
Commire, Anne, ed. Something About the Author. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 1972. This volume provides some biographical details about Latham.
Fuller, Muriel, ed. More Junior Authors. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1963. This book includes autobiographical comments by Latham.
Fulton, Ellen. "Jean Lee Latham." Horn Book 32 (August 1956): 293-299. This article offers biographical information about Latham and includes her Newbery acceptance speech, in which she discusses writing Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. Both pieces are reprinted in Horn Book's Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books, 1956-1965.
Kirkpatrick, D. L., ed. Twentieth-Century Children's Writers. 2nd ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1983. This edition features a comprehensive bibliography of Latham's works along with a brief critical analysis.
