THE MANY BACKGROUNDS OF
A. KENNEDY
The various backstories fanfic writers have provided for Archie.
I'm so confused!
Oh, man! "Many" is not an exaggeration. This page turned out to be so long that I may eventually break it up into sub-pages. The reason for so many backstories is that the Hornblower series tells us only a little about Archie. To wit: he may or may not have been on the Justinian six months longer or more (or less) than Horatio, his father has a gillie, he knows someone named Maria, he speaks Spanish "a little," he can quote Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, and he knew Drury Lane like it was his home. The book The Making of Hornblower adds that he is the third son of a lord.
And that's it! Fertile ground for fanfic speculation if ever there was one, and the Horatio Hornblower Fan Fiction Archive rises to the occasion. Follow the links for further information:
THE KENNEDY FAMILY
The general picture that emerges of the Kennedy clan is not an altogether happy one. In most stories they are described as nobility who had little use for Archie -- either on account of his fits or his cultural interests, or both, depending on which fic you read.
STORY
|
UPPER TIER NOBILITY
|
LESSER NOBILITY
|
UNSPEC. NOBILITY
|
HAPPY
|
UNHAPPY
|
TIED TO "OUR" KENNEDYS
|
A Day (Or So) in The Life
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
All for The Best
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Archie & Edrington's Excellent Adventure
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
|
Archie's Journal
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Castle out of Check
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Christmas Memory: Archie
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
Circumstances of Birth
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Connexions of Human Thoughts
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
Conversations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Dark Harbor
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
A Deep But Dazzling Darkness
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
El Ferrol
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good Friday
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
Holly and the Ivy
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
Hornblower and the Spanish Doctor
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
The Journal
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Kitty Cobham and the Chamber of Secrets
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
Leaving the Past Behind
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
Letter from Hell - Archie's Reply (by Dutch)
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
Life Aboard Justinian
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
Life of Duty
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Love, Duty, and Other Ties that Bind
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Nightmare
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Out from the Shadows
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
The Parole
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Perfection in
My Eyes
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
"Perspectives" & "Passages" series
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
Ransom
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Red Sky at Morning
|
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
Scars
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Season's Greetings
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
See Paris and Live
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Ship of the Damned
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Simple Gifts
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
A Skerry Story
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
Travels through Time
|
X
|
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
The Weather Eye
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
DAD
Either Papa Kennedy was one cold old SOB, or he is suffering from the worst case of bad PR in the entire 18th century. With a few notable exceptions, he is usually described as having no fatherly feelings for Archie whatsoever.
STORY
|
NAME
|
GOOD
|
BAD
|
DISTANT,
BUT LATER RECONCILED
|
A Day (Or So) in The Life & Ship of The Damned
|
Viscount Aylseford
|
X
|
|
X
|
All for The Best
|
Viscount Aylseford
|
|
X
|
|
Another Way
to Serve
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Archie & Edrington's Excellent Adventure
|
Lord Kennedy, Baronet
|
X
|
|
|
Archie's Journal
|
(unspec.)
|
|
|
? - hard to call
|
The Carpenter's Walk
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Castle out of Check
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Christmas Memory: Archie
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X (implied)
|
|
Circumstances of Birth
|
Lord Kennedy
|
X (basically)
|
|
|
Connexions of Human Thoughts
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Dark Harbor
|
Lord Whelan Kennedy
|
X
|
|
|
A Deep But Dazzling Darkness
|
Lord Kennedy
|
|
X
|
|
A Final Act of Kindness
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Good Friday
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Leaving the Past Behind
|
Right Sir Honorable Kennedy
|
|
X
|
|
Letter from Hell - Archie's Reply (by Dutch)
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Life Aboard Justinian
|
Lord Bridgeleigh
|
|
|
? - hard to call
|
Life of Duty
|
Earl Kennedy
|
|
X
|
|
Lightning Flashes of Memory
|
Lord Kennedy of Oxford
|
|
X
|
|
Memoriam
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Out from The Shadows
|
Lord Andrew Kennedy
|
|
X
|
|
The Parole
|
Viscount Aylesford
|
|
X
|
|
Peace on Earth and Mercy Mild
|
(unspec.)
|
X (implied)
|
|
|
Perfection in
My Eyes
|
Sir Henry Kennedy
|
|
X
|
|
"Perspectives" and "Passages" series
|
Lord Bridgeleigh
|
X
|
|
X
|
Ransom
|
Earl Grenbrook
|
|
X
(sort of)
|
|
Red Sky at Morning
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Season's Greetings
|
(unspec.)
|
|
|
? - hard to call
|
Simple Gifts
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
A Skerry Story
|
(unspec.)
|
|
|
|
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Travels through Time
|
Earl Kennedy
|
|
X
|
|
Uncharted Course
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
The Visit
|
Lord James Kennedy
|
|
X
|
|
MUM
In contrast to the forbidding Papa Kennedy, Mama Kennedy is usually described as a kind, loving soul. Unfortunately for Archie, she's also usually described as dead.
STORY
|
NAME
|
GOOD
|
BAD
|
DEAD
|
A Day (Or So) in The Life
|
Lady Kennedy
|
X
|
|
|
All for The Best
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Another Way
to Serve
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Archie & Edrington's Excellent Adventure
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
|
Archie's Journal
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
|
Archie's Journal: Christmas in Spain
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
|
The Best Christmas
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
The Carpenter's Walk
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Castle out of Check
|
*unpec.)
|
X
|
|
|
Christmas Memory: Archie
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Circumstances of Birth
|
Bridgid, Lady Kennedy
|
X
(I guess)
|
|
|
Connexions of Human Thoughts
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Dark Harbor
|
Lady Gwendolyn Kennedy
|
X
|
|
|
A Deep But Dazzling Darkness
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Fidus Achates
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Gibraltar Interlude
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Good Friday
|
(unspec.)
|
|
|
X
|
Hornblower and The Spanish Doctor
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Leaving the Past Behind
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Letter from Hell - Archie's Reply (by Dutch)
|
(unspec.)
|
|
X
|
|
Life Aboard Justinian
|
Lady Bridgeleigh
|
X
|
|
X
|
Life of Duty
|
Lady Kennedy
|
|
X
|
|
Lightning Flashes of Memory
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Memoriam
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
|
The Parole
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Peace on Earth and Mercy Mild
|
(unspec.)
|
X
(I guess)
|
|
|
Perfection in
My Eyes
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
"Perspectives" and "Passages" series
|
Lady Bridgeleigh
|
X
|
|
X
|
Ransom
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
|
Red Sky at Morning
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Season's Greetings
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
|
Simple Gifts
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
To Hear The Angels Sing
|
(unspec.)
|
X
|
|
X
|
The Visit
|
Isabelle
|
X
|
|
X
|
BROTHERS
Although it is in a sense "canon" (not mentioned in the series but in the companion book The Making of Hornblower) that Archie is the third son of a lord, his fanfic brothers vary widely in their portrayals.
STORY
|
NAME
|
OLDER
|
GOOD
|
BAD
|
A Day (Or So) in The Life & Ship of The Damned
|
Richard
|
X
|
X
|
|
A Day (Or So) in The Life & Ship of The Damned
|
Charles
|
X
|
|
X
|
Another Way
to Serve
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
|
|
X
|
Archie & Edrington's Excellent Adventure
|
Edward
|
X
|
|
X
|
The Carpenter's Walk
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
|
|
X
|
Connexions of Human Thoughts
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
X
|
|
X
|
Conversations
|
two;
unspec names
|
X
|
|
|
A Deep But Dazzling Darkness
|
two; unspec. names
|
X
|
|
X
|
Hornblower and The Spanish Doctor
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
X
|
|
|
Leaving the Past Behind
|
two; unspec. names
|
X
|
|
X
|
Letter from Hell - Archie's Reply (by Dutch)
|
two; unspec. names
|
X
|
|
|
Life Aboard Justinian
|
Bobby
|
X
|
X
|
|
Life Aboard Justinian
|
Joe
|
X
|
|
X
|
Life of Duty
|
Edward and one unspec.
|
X
|
|
X
|
Lightning Flashes of Memory
|
Gerold
|
X
|
|
X
|
Lightning Flashes of Memory
|
Biron
|
X
|
|
X
|
Memoriam
|
Ronald
|
X
|
|
|
Memoriam
|
Arthur
|
X
|
|
|
Missing Scene from D&D
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
|
|
X
|
Nightmare
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
|
|
|
The Parole
|
two; unspec. names
|
X
|
|
|
"Perspectives" and "Passages" series
|
William
|
X
|
|
X
|
"Perspectives" and "Passages" series
|
David
|
X
|
X
|
|
Peace on Earth and Mercy Mild
|
(unspec. name or age)
|
|
|
|
Perfection in
My Eyes
|
Edwin
|
X
|
|
X
|
Perfection in
My Eyes
|
Jacob
|
X
|
|
X
|
Ransom
|
Arthur
|
X
|
X
|
|
Ransom
|
Ronald
|
X
|
|
X
|
Red Sky at Morning
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
X
|
|
X
|
Simple Gifts
|
Malcolm
|
|
|
X
|
Simple Gifts
|
Duncan
|
|
|
X
|
To Hear The Angels Sing
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
X
|
|
X
|
Travels through Time
|
Joseph P.
|
X
|
|
X
|
Travels through Time
|
Bobby
|
X
|
X
|
|
The Visit
|
yes - unspec. names and #
|
X
|
|
X
|
The Weather Eye
|
two; unspec. names
|
X
|
|
|
SISTERS
Much less has been made of Archie's sisters, but by now he's acquired enough for me to finally give them a table!
STORY
|
NAME
|
OLDER
|
YOUNGER
|
Another Way to Serve
|
Abigail McKenzie
|
X
|
|
Archie and Edrington's Excellent Adventure
|
Mary
|
|
X
|
Archie and Edrington's Excellent Adventure
|
Lizzie
|
|
X
|
Archie and Edrington's Excellent Adventure
|
Margaret
|
|
X
|
Castle out of Check
|
several (unspec. names or ages)
|
|
|
Dark Harbor
|
Catherine
|
|
|
A Day (or So)
in The Life
|
Mary
|
X
|
|
A Drury Lane Evening
|
one (unspec. name or age)
|
|
|
A Final Act of Kindness
|
Abigail MacKenzie
|
|
|
Hornblower and the Bad Hair Day
|
Alice
|
|
|
Lightning Flashes
of Memory
|
Auriar
|
|
X
|
Memoriam
|
Eleanor
|
|
|
Peace on Earth and Mercy Mild
|
one (unspec. name; a twin)
|
|
|
Perfection in
My Eyes
|
Annalise
|
|
X
|
Perfection in
My Eyes
|
Avery
|
|
X
|
Perfection in
My Eyes
|
Evelyn
|
X
|
|
Ransom
|
Mary Elizabeth
|
X
|
|
Ransom
|
Anne
|
X
|
|
Ransom
|
Eleanor
|
X
|
|
Ransom
|
Elizabeth
|
|
X
|
Season's Greetings
|
several (unspec. names or ages)
|
|
|
Simple Gifts
|
Margaret
|
|
|
Simple Gifts
|
Alice
|
|
|
A Skerry Story
|
Margaret
|
X
|
|
A Skerry Story
|
(unspec. name or age)
|
|
|
Uncharted Course
|
Auriar
|
|
|
The Visit
|
Abigail MacKenzie
|
X
|
|
The Weather Eye
|
several
(unspec. names or ages)
|
|
|
COUSINS
In To See Paris and Live, Castle out of Check, Reprieve, Trick or Treat , The Weather Eye, The Visit, and Players on the Stage, Archie is ingeniously presented as a cousin of Lord Tony Dewhurst of the Pimpernel League. I say "ingeniously" because Jamie Bamber played both Archie and Lord Tony -- in Hornblower and The Scarlet Pimpernel, respectively.
There's also a cousin named Alexander in Dark Harbor, by the way.
COUNSELORS
Sometimes you just need somebody to talk to ... although in Archie's case, it usually takes a lot of persuading to get him to open up. Fanfic writers have provided him with several sympathetic ears and sources of positive encouragement: you might say, the 18th century equivalent of counselors. Here they are, in alphabetical order. I haven't included Horatio, for he and Archie often perform the same service for each other in countless stories.
(NOTE: Except for Kitty Cobham and Dr. Hornblower -- and Catherine,
I guess -- these characters are the original creations of the authors)
* BRIDGET
WHO: A golden-hearted lady of the night who gives Archie some hard but sound advice at the beginning of his naval career.
WHERE: Life Aboard Justinian
* CATHERINE THE GREAT
WHO: Yes, that one.
WHERE: The Connexions of Human Thoughts
* COBHAM, KITTY
WHO: Everyone's favorite Duchess.
WHERE: Lightning Flashes of Memory
* HORNBLOWER, DR. JULIUS
WHO: Horatio's dad, a kindly country doctor.
WHERE: Good Friday, Healing Hands, The Holly and The Ivy, A Life of Duty, Tidings of Comfort and Joy
* PIERRE
WHO: A rather boring Frenchman, who, when he stops yacking about Voltaire for two seconds, does make a pretty good listener.
WHERE: All for the Best
* RILEY, KATHLEEN
WHO: Yet another golden-hearted lady of the night who helps see Archie through a right royal bender. And no, I am not going to comment on Our Boy's evident susceptibility to compassionate doxies!
WHERE: Another Way to Serve
* ROSE
WHO: A golden-hearted lady of the night who helps see Archie through his darkest fanfic adventure.
WHERE: Red Sky at Morning
* SEBASTIAN, DR. LUIS
WHO: A devout and compassionate British-educated Spaniard who, in the fanfic universe, replaces the decidedly unsympathetic Dr. Hepplewhite as the ship's surgeon.
WHERE: An American Encounter, An American Encounter: Part 2, The Carpenter's Walk, A Deep But Dazzling Darkness,Healing Hands, Hearts of Oak, Hornblower and the Spanish Doctor, A Life of Duty, The Life Laid Down, Passages: 1799, The Price of Honour, Scars, Simple Gifts, To Hear the Angels Sing
FITS
Did Archie start having fits before he joined the navy or after? I started to make a chart for this, but virtually all the stories that specifically address the issue have the affliction preceding his enlistment -- in fact, it's often a cause of his enlistment.
IN THE NAVY
Was Archie's enlistment at his family's behest or at his own? How old was he when he joined?
STORY
|
VOLUNTARY
|
INVOLUNTARY
|
AGE
|
A Day (Or So) in The Life & Ship of The Damned
|
X
|
|
15
|
All for The Best
|
|
X
|
(unspec.)
|
Archie & Edrington's Excellent Adventure
|
X
|
|
16
|
Archie's Reply 2
|
|
X
|
(unspec.)
|
The Carpenter's Walk
|
|
|
12
|
Connexions of Human Thoughts
|
|
X
|
(unspec.)
|
Good Friday
|
|
X
|
(unspec.)
|
Holly and The Ivy
|
|
X
|
10
|
Letter from Hell - Archie's Reply (by Dutch)
|
|
X
|
(unspec.)
|
Life Aboard Justinian
|
|
X
|
15
|
"Perspectives" and "Passages" series
|
|
X
|
12
|
Ransom
|
X
|
|
16
|
Red Sky at Morning
|
|
X
|
12
|
Travels through Time
|
|
X
|
(unspec.)
|
MISCELLANEOUS TALENTS
Archie's love of Shakespeare is well represented in many stories, but he sometimes also shows talent of his own in other areas:
* ACTING
All The World's A Stage
Castle out of Check
From Here to Profanity [humor]
Players on the Stage
The Weather Eye [humor]
* DRAWING
A Skerry Story
* FOOTBALL (AMERICAN)
Super Bowles XXXV [humor]
* MUSIC
Christmas Memory: Archie
Hornblower and The Passenger
Lightning Flashes of Memory
Simple Gifts
A Skerry Story
The Weather Eye [humor]
* TENNIS
The Indefatigable Open [humor]
* WRITING
Misery
The Price of Honour
The Weather Eye [humor]
This page last updated 6/3/02.