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Blue at the Mizzen (Abridged) Audiobook
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(4.00) - 2,474 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In this, the twentieth installment of the Aubrey/Maturin series, Napoleon has been defeated at Waterloo, and the ensuing peace takes on an ugly complexion for Captain Jack Aubrey: the desertion of nearly half his crew; and the sudden dimming of his own career prospects in a peacetime navy. To cap it off, the Surprise is nearly sunk in a shattering night collision on the first leg of her journey to South America where Jack and Stephen are to help Chile assert her independence from Spain. In the end it is Jack's bold initiative to strike at the vastly superior Spanish fleet that precipitates the spectacular naval action that will determine both Chile's fate and his own.
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"I listened all of the Aubrey/Maturin books on AudioBooks from the NY and Mesa Public Libraries. They're all pretty fun and I probably couldn't tell exactly what happened in each different book, I'd just have it on while I was working and if I had to go do something else I'd miss some of what happened but don't feel like I missed out on anything. It was sad as people with whom I because familiar died off one by one, but the end of Blue at the Mizzen was about the most perfect end to a long book series as could be."
— Tim (4 out of 5 stars)
Blue at the Mizzen Listener Reviews
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" Oh Jack Aubrey, I give you joy! I've also decided not to read 21 because I think it will leave me feeling incomplete and I'm so very happy with the ending of this one. Besides, I'm perfectly capable of coming up with a suitable ending for you and Stephen on my own. "
— Courtney, 2/13/2014 -
" This is the last of the Aubrey/Maturin series, which surely is some of the best historical fiction ever written. Each of the books is full of great detail on military and political history, geography, zoology, medicine ... and on and on. This is by no means the best book of the series, but still great. It was no chore at all to go through all 20 books. "
— John, 2/2/2014 -
" There is a definite drop off in the final few books - the language and style, which is what sets the books apart, just does not have the same sharpness (likely due to age: O'Brian died at 85 not long after this book was published, leaving the start of a 21st Aubrey-Maturin story). Still as a whole, the series has been ridiculously addictive, and is really a brilliant achievement. "
— Thomas, 1/30/2014 -
" I stalled for months...but it's over. :( "
— Sarah, 1/29/2014 -
" It pains me to say it, but this was my least favorite of all twenty complete books. I had hoped for a grand finale, but that's not what I got. There are too many loose ends and knowing that the story will never be complete is a very sad thing. "
— Joey, 1/11/2014 -
" Fitting end to the series. I cannot believe that this is the last one,gutted. "
— Justin, 12/19/2013 -
" First-class as an unintended end to the series, with only a few minor details left open-ended. This one makes a satisfying conclusion. "
— J.E., 12/16/2013 -
" Just finished reading the whole Aubrey/Maturin collection for the 2nd time. First time was 10 years ago. Still just as wonderful. You become so involved with the characters and plots. So hard to put down! "
— Kathy, 12/7/2013 -
" The final book in the Aubrey/Maturin canon. It was sad to see it end... but, man! What a ride! "
— Bill, 11/26/2013 -
" No... if you love him, skip it and see the book he meant to write, not the one old age allowed him to write. "
— Mackay, 10/16/2013 -
" A satisfying end to the series, but not quite at the level of the ones in the middle. "
— Carrie, 10/11/2013 -
" I can't help but feel trepidatious as I begin this book. It's the end of thousands of pages of reading and two characters I have fallen deeply, madly in love with. "
— Greg, 6/18/2013 -
" That's it. All done. What an amazing achievement by Patrick O'Brian. Think I'll give it a year and then start them again... "
— Booksthailand, 5/19/2013 -
" the last of the aubrey-maturin series. the napoleonic wars are over and jack takes his ship on 'hydrologic' cum espionage mission to chile. good characters and dialogue as usual and jack makes flag rank so good for him. "
— Jrobertus, 5/18/2013 -
" Due recognition is in sight for Captain Jack Aubrey, supported by ship's surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin and Jack's brave, loyal crew members. There are many obstacles to be overcome, however, and the plot twists and turns before coming to a wholly satisfying resolution. Pacy and exciting. "
— JoTownhead, 2/19/2013 -
" A good Jack Aubrey Book,always a treat. "
— Dean, 1/25/2013 -
" I am sad that this is the 2nd to last book (and last full book). Right at the end it seemed to get a little lost, but as usual, still a fun read (or listen)--though I don't think I will ever truly understand all the sailing stuff. "
— Melinda, 12/5/2012 -
" I saved this last one in the series for honeymoon... Excellent if unintentional end to the series. "
— Fritz, 7/19/2011 -
" That's it. All done. What an amazing achievement by Patrick O'Brian. Think I'll give it a year and then start them again... "
— Booksthailand, 5/19/2011 -
" Better than 100 days. As always, the scene transitions can be a bit tough and take some careful reading. On the other hand, they capture the hallucinatory nature of long voyages. "
— Ian, 12/31/2010 -
" First-class as an unintended end to the series, with only a few minor details left open-ended. This one makes a satisfying conclusion. "
— J.E., 11/29/2010 -
" I am sad that this is the 2nd to last book (and last full book). Right at the end it seemed to get a little lost, but as usual, still a fun read (or listen)--though I don't think I will ever truly understand all the sailing stuff. "
— Melinda, 9/24/2010 -
" Yay! I'm done with the series and can start reading other things again. <br/>Boo! I'm done with the series and I still want to know what happens next. "
— Deidre, 9/18/2010 -
" I saved this last one in the series for honeymoon... Excellent if unintentional end to the series. "
— Fritz, 8/14/2010 -
" I can't bear to move on to the last, unfinished novel. An older O'Brian writes an older Maturin and Aubrey brilliantly. "
— Morgan, 8/8/2010 -
" Not my favorite Patrick O'Brian, but they're always enjoyable. "
— Liz, 8/2/2010 -
" I stalled for months...but it's over. :( "
— Sarah, 6/2/2010 -
" Correction: My review (comment, really) of the twentieth book in the series, "Blue at the Mizzen," was inadvertently assigned to the wrong book... Oops. "
— Joshua, 5/16/2010 -
" This series by Patrick O'Brian is a literary masterpiece. It is astonishing to realize that it was written in the late 20th century and not in the 18th. "
— Justin, 3/29/2010 -
" Just finished reading the whole Aubrey/Maturin collection for the 2nd time. First time was 10 years ago. Still just as wonderful. You become so involved with the characters and plots. So hard to put down! "
— Kathy, 3/26/2010 -
" In my opion this is the weakest of the 20 books in the series, but still pretty good. O'Brian was close to 90 years old and did not have a lot longer to live, so it is understandable. "
— Ross, 3/14/2010
About Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O’Brian (1914–2000), a translator and author of biographies, was best known as the author of the highly acclaimed Aubrey–Maturin series of historical novels. Set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars ,this twenty-volume series centers on the enduring friendship between naval officer Jack Aubrey and physician and spy Stephen Maturin. The Far Side of the World, the tenth book in the series, was adapted into a 2003 film directed by Peter Weir and starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. The film was nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture. He wrote acclaimed biographies of Pablo Picasso and Sir Joseph Banks. He also translated many works from the French, among them the novels and memoirs of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean Lacouture’s biographies of Charles de Gaulle.
About Tim Pigott-Smith
Tim Pigott-Smith is an award-winning English actor of film, television, and stage and an audiobook narrator. He has narrated several notable television documentaries, including Crimes That Shook the World. He has won two AudioFile Earphones Awards, for The Honorary Consul by Graham Greene and The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyesvky. He was a three-time finalist for the 2006 Audie Award for Best Original Work for the three-part Eyewitness series by Joanna Burke. His film career includes roles in major motion pictures, including V for Vendetta, Quantum of Solace, The Remains of the Day, Gangs of New York, and more. His numerous television credits include Downton Abbey, The Jewel in the Crown, and North and South. He is also a noted radio actor, appearing in many productions on BBC Radio 4, and a regular stage actor in Shakespearean and Greek roles.