Just out of curiosity, and this is directed in general, who comes to mind when you think of Jack or Stephen? Who would you have cast? It was remarked on another forum that Patrick O'Brien was asked that himself and he said that for Jack Aubrey a blonde Gerard Depardieu was close to how he visualized Jack Aubrey.
Depardieu is so...sooo....FRENCH though!!! I can't think of him as anything but "ICK!"
Would you believe my visual hits closer to Jack Hale ???? (yes, he of Gilligan's Island!!)