The Royal Navy's Submarine Command Course, known as 'Perisher', rigorously trains and evaluates officers for submarine command in a high-stakes environment. This demanding program emphasizes mission command, requiring leaders to operate independently without external support. The course is designed to ensure that only the most competent and capable individuals are entrusted with command roles, highlighting the critical nature of leadership in challenging maritime conditions.
The narrative follows Caliban's surreal journey from a vibrant lesbian wedding in Liverpool to a fictional London, exploring the dichotomy between reality and dreams. Parry delves into lyrical contradictions, creating illogical yet captivating scenarios that blend theatrical landscapes with themes of Anglo-Saxon witchcraft and Radical Traditionalism. Through this exploration, the author addresses the haunting Jungian Spirits and the quest for authenticity within the British identity, offering a rich tapestry of thought-provoking ideas and imagery.
Exploring queer sexuality and existential isolation, the prose-poetry collection features Parry's alter-ego, Caliban, who reflects through a Shakespearean Noir lens. The work delves into the complexities of identity and desire, portraying Caliban as a metaphysical figure navigating a landscape of violence and longing. As the author deconstructs his own identity, he critiques the notions of redemption and transcendence proposed by Browning and Nietzsche, ultimately asserting that true passion lies in embracing one's authentic self.
The thirty-three cases in this excellent book give a unique and fascinating insight into life in the Victorian period, in Liverpool and beyond.