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The Commodore Audiobook
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(4.00) - 2,786 listener ratings
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For years, critics have hailed Patrick O’Brian’s seafaring adventure series as “the best historical novels ever written” (New York Times). With elegant language, eccentric characters, and authentic period atmosphere, the series transports you to the high seas of the Napoleonic era. After a dangerous tour of duty in the Great South Sea, Jack and Stephen return to their families in England. For Jack, the homecoming is joyful, but for Stephen, it is heartbreaking. His wife, Diana, has left for parts unknown, and his young daughter has all the symptoms of autism. To escape these painful circumstances, Stephen joins Jack on a bizarre decoy mission to the lagoons of the Gulf of Guinea. There surprises lurk in various guises: risky confrontations with slave traders, secret battle plans for a French invasion, and, possibly, word of Diana’s whereabouts.
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"It's been a while (The Mauritius Command, if memory serves) since we've gotten to see Aubrey in the company of other commanders and profit by noting the differences. O'Brian is up to some of his usual tricks in having the different captains stand as symbols of what Jack might have become had he not possessed his particular blend of discipline and camaraderie. Duff, a pederast who sleeps with his favorites, is perhaps the most extreme example of a captain rewarding his underlings to the degree that they become his catamites; whereas Thomas is an inflexible disciplinarian more interested in petty appearances and regulations than fighting or sailing well. Both men are inadequate as captains because of their excesses and much of the novel's drama derives from Aubrey's need to meld them into a proper fighting force in order to carry out his orders. From Maturin's point of view, the drama is nearly entirely domestic: he finally returns home to meet his daughter (seemingly an autistic 'natural' but in fact a delicate and budding girl who needs only the inarticulate supervision of Padeen to begin to blossom into language) who has been left in the care of Clarissa Oakes (from a couple novels back) while his wife runs off to Ireland. There is some minor drama to be found in Aubrey's situation as well, due to his meddling (and now bookie) mother-in-law and mutual (somewhat merited) jealousy between himself and Sophie. Nearly all of this comes right, as it so often does in O'Brian's world. The end is perhaps the most vertiginous in the series to date. O'Brian has often evidenced a quickening of the plot as the pages dwindle, but nothing compared to this. In a matter of a handful of pages, the final decisive naval engagement occurs, and Maturin is, at very long last, reunited with his wife. The scene is absolutely, utterly pitch perfect, and as good as anything O'Brian has done to this point."
— Nelson (4 out of 5 stars)
The Commodore Listener Reviews
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Bruce Jondle, 2/3/2023
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Doug , 11/2/2021
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otte Rosenkrantz, 4/7/2021
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Anthony Schiro, 5/6/2020
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" O'Brian can be difficult to read but is wonderful to listen to when read by narrators like Patrick Tull. The language is sumptuous and period-perfect. Moreover, the author's mastery of details of the British Navy circa 1803 is unmatched. "
— Yovo, 10/23/2019 -
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Todd Palmer, 1/17/2018
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" Previously read June 1, 2009. Aubrey leads a squadron of ships against slave traders, then intercepts a French invasion fleet off Ireland. "
— Greg, 2/15/2014 -
" I still love this series. "
— Ahf, 2/13/2014 -
" Probably my favorite Aubreyad novel since Desolation Island--exquisite, fulfilling, satisfying. "
— Moses, 2/12/2014 -
" Commodore Jack Aubrey faces the challenge of leading other captains in a 2-pronged mission, closely linked to ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin's espionage activity. At home, waters are choppy but the tide turns in due course. Interesting detail of early 19th Century social attitudes to the slave trade and slave transportation. "
— JoTownhead, 2/8/2014 -
" Another fun entry in the Aubrey/Maturin series. Stellar narration, as always, by Patrick Tull. "
— Sandi, 2/5/2014 -
" Patrick Tull is a superb narrator and this series is one of the best reads ever. I will probably begin it all over again at some point in the future. "
— Sharron, 1/19/2014 -
" 1st Recorded Reading: August 2001 "
— Kathryn, 1/15/2014 -
" This volume beautifully illustrates the price the Captain and the Doctor pay at home for their many years at sea. I am despondent that i only have three volumes to go in the series... What can possibly replace it in my life? "
— Richard, 12/16/2013 -
" Not the best of the series, but still a great read. These things are my go-to books when I'm not sure what else I should reading, which says something about their quality I suppose. "
— Scott, 11/7/2013 -
" This was my second time reading this. Of course I love it! "
— S.K., 10/26/2013 -
" #17...Africa to Ireland. More adventures. "
— Sandy, 5/27/2013 -
" How can I rate these books other than to give them 5 stars? Choosing among them is like deciding whether I prefer chocolate or double chocolate. I love the fact that you can bird through these books and then most of the items I look up in the companion book are not found. "
— Ian, 10/31/2012 -
" Jack and Stephen head off to Africa, then to Ireland. Tears of joy at the end. "
— Squeaky, 10/9/2012 -
" Re-reading this old favorite. "
— Philip, 9/26/2012 -
" Just try this series even if you don't think you like this kind of thing. You'll thank me. "
— Booksthailand, 9/8/2012 -
" This may be my favorite book in this series. A lot of loose ends get tied up, and there are a lot of surprises--some of them even pleasant. It's also pretty focused around Stephen, which pleases me greatly. "
— Angela, 1/27/2012 -
" An installment rather than a full-blown narrative, this is, however essential connective tissue between a couple of nail-biters. "
— Drew, 9/19/2011 -
" Another installment of the Aubrey/Maturin series, really enjoying watching Aubrey's career. "
— Deanne, 5/27/2011 -
" Just try this series even if you don't think you like this kind of thing. You'll thank me. "
— Booksthailand, 5/19/2011 -
" Just try this series even if you don't think you like this kind of thing. You'll thank me. "
— Booksthailand, 5/19/2011 -
" This may be my favorite book in this series. A lot of loose ends get tied up, and there are a lot of surprises--some of them even pleasant. It's also pretty focused around Stephen, which pleases me greatly. "
— Angela, 4/19/2011 -
" This may be my favorite book in this series. A lot of loose ends get tied up, and there are a lot of surprises--some of them even pleasant. It's also pretty focused around Stephen, which pleases me greatly. "
— Angela, 4/19/2011 -
" Back up to the pace and quality through-and-through with this one. "
— J.E., 11/29/2010 -
" Back up to the pace and quality through-and-through with this one. "
— J.E., 11/29/2010 -
" #17...Africa to Ireland. More adventures. "
— Sandy, 9/27/2010 -
" This series, with its depth of understanding and research regarding actual sailing and naval life, is why I can't help but cringe when I think about Michael Crichton's last novel. These are brilliant. "
— Travis, 4/12/2010 -
" This series, with its depth of understanding and research regarding actual sailing and naval life, is why I can't help but cringe when I think about Michael Crichton's last novel. These are brilliant. "
— Travis, 4/12/2010 -
" This volume beautifully illustrates the price the Captain and the Doctor pay at home for their many years at sea. I am despondent that i only have three volumes to go in the series... What can possibly replace it in my life? "
— Richard, 12/8/2009 -
" This volume beautifully illustrates the price the Captain and the Doctor pay at home for their many years at sea. I am despondent that i only have three volumes to go in the series... What can possibly replace it in my life? "
— Richard, 12/8/2009 -
" How can I rate these books other than to give them 5 stars? Choosing among them is like deciding whether I prefer chocolate or double chocolate. I love the fact that you can bird through these books and then most of the items I look up in the companion book are not found. "
— Ian, 9/10/2009 -
" How can I rate these books other than to give them 5 stars? Choosing among them is like deciding whether I prefer chocolate or double chocolate. I love the fact that you can bird through these books and then most of the items I look up in the companion book are not found. "
— Ian, 9/10/2009 -
" Another great book in the series. "
— Becca, 9/8/2009 -
" Another great book in the series. "
— Becca, 9/8/2009
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.