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Blue at the Mizzen Audiobook
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(4.00) - 4,946 listener ratings
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With his swashbuckling adventures, best-selling novelist Patrick O'Brian transports you to the high seas of old where privateers lurk in the mist, and great ships fight to control the waterways. Blue at the Mizzen hoists the excitement to new heights as British frigate commander Jack Aubrey stakes everything on a desperate raid against the mighty Spanish fleet. Ever since Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, Captain Aubrey's prospects in the new peacetime navy have looked dim. Even worse, his frigate Surprise was badly damaged in a nighttime collision. While Aubrey waits for repairs, ship's doctor Stephen Maturin brings him intriguing information about the New World. Soon Aubrey is leading a bold expedition that will determine the fate of a rising South American nation - and his own. Critically-acclaimed author Patrick O'Brian blends authentic period atmosphere, rich humor, and elegant language in each of his seafaring yarns. You can almost hear the thunder of the waves and smell the salty sea air as you listen to Patrick Tull's dramatic performance.
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"The last completed novel in Patrick O'Brian's superb Aubrey-Maturin series of seafaring novels set in the early 19th century. This installment has it all: a bit of the home-front with the families of Jack and Stephen; a long voyage across the Atlantic and around Cape Horn and into the Pacific; battles ashore and at sea; and the fascinating politics and espionage associated with nation-building in the budding South American republics; and we finally find out if Captain Jack Aubrey will be allowed to hoist his blue ensign as a Rear Admiral. Whilst I've not read 21: The Final Voyage of Jack Aubrey, the book unfinished by O'Brian before his death in early 2000, I felt that Blue at the Mizzen proved to be a very satisfactory and ultimately quite satisfying conclusion to this brilliant canon of great literature. Jack and Stephen will always be sailing on in my imagination -- Just as it should be!"
— Christopher (5 out of 5 stars)
Blue at the Mizzen Listener Reviews
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Bruce Jondle, 12/19/2022
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Doug , 2/6/2022
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" 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, 2/10/2014 -
" 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, 2/10/2014 -
" Read it out of sequence....should do it again later "
— LDuchess, 2/9/2014 -
" 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, 2/7/2014 -
" Not my favorite Patrick O'Brian, but they're always enjoyable. "
— Liz, 2/5/2014 -
" I have read the entire Aubrey/Maturn series at least six times, in order, and been captivated by many facets. Of course the sheer adventure is enthralling, but the way in which O'Brian has developed his characters as the books go along is magical. One reviewer called O'Brian " The Jane Austen of the 20th century." Right on! Only in the last two books as O'Brian aged and was no doubt under pressure from publishers, did the standards slip. This is one of the weakest. "
— Jerry, 1/31/2014 -
" 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, 1/23/2014 -
" 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, 1/18/2014 -
" 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, 1/16/2014 -
" After 20 books, I figured I'd be getting tired of Aubrey and Maturin, but it's quite the opposite. Perhaps it's because I'm listening to the books instead of reading them, but this series just gets better and better. "
— Tim, 1/12/2014 -
" Sad it's over. Happy, indeed, for Jack to hoist his flag at last :) "
— Dean, 1/6/2014 -
" Sad it's over. Happy, indeed, for Jack to hoist his flag at last :) "
— Dean, 1/3/2014 -
" 1st Recorded Reading: September 2001 "
— Kathryn, 12/31/2013 -
" 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, 12/20/2013 -
" 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, 12/18/2013 -
" 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, 12/4/2013 -
" Well, I'm sad it's over. The books slowed down towards the end, but they still satisfied. "
— Will, 12/3/2013 -
" A good Jack Aubrey Book,always a treat. "
— Dean, 11/19/2013 -
" This entire series is wonderful, but by the last two books I sensed O'Brian becoming tired. There was less humor, and fewer of the unexpected little twists that make the earlier books amusing and compelling. "
— Louisa, 10/12/2013 -
" A mostly-satisfying end to the series, though if it had been written with that in mind, it might have been a little more successful. Oddly, the final chapter almost reads as if it had been written as the first chapter of a different book. "
— S., 9/1/2013 -
" Not my favorite Patrick O'Brian, but they're always enjoyable. "
— Liz, 6/19/2013 -
" 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, 6/19/2013 -
" 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, 6/16/2013 -
" 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, 4/8/2013 -
" Sad. I'm done with the series. The earlier books were the best, but by the time the story wondered, these characters were part of my DNA. now the Admiral Aubrey has arrived, I'm lost. "
— Bo, 6/18/2012 -
" 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, 5/20/2012 -
" A mostly-satisfying end to the series, though if it had been written with that in mind, it might have been a little more successful. Oddly, the final chapter almost reads as if it had been written as the first chapter of a different book. "
— S., 5/16/2012 -
" I stalled for months...but it's over. :( "
— Sarah, 5/1/2012 -
" 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., 3/18/2012 -
" A good Jack Aubrey Book,always a treat. "
— Dean, 1/8/2012 -
" Finally finished the series. Except for 21! "
— Squeaky, 11/30/2011 -
" 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, 11/23/2011 -
" This is the 20th volume in O'Brian's magisterial series of Abubrey/ Maturin. Great history, intriguing plots and characterization that deepens over time. "
— Peter, 10/22/2011 -
" 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 -
" 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 -
" 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 -
" 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 -
" 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 -
" 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 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 -
" 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 -
" 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 -
" 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 -
" 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 -
" The end, I guess. "
— Isis, 3/29/2010 -
" 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 -
" 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 -
" 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.