The 8th installment in the Aubrey/Maturin Series. Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, veterans now of many battles, return in this novel to the seas where they first sailed as shipmates. But Jack is now senior captain commanding a line-of-battleship in the Royal Navy's blockage of toulon, and this is a longer, harder, colder war than the dashing frigate action of his early days. A sudden turn of events takes him and Stephen off on a hazardous mission to the Greek Islands, where all his old skills of seamanship and his proverbial luck when fighting against all odds come triumphantly into their own.
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"This series about the Napoleanic War at sea is not for everyone. If you are looking for excitement on every page, look elsewhere. However, if you want beautiful writing, an expansive discussion of love and friendship and the sea, with enough adventure to keep you going, this is the place." — Will (4 out of 5 stars)
"This series about the Napoleanic War at sea is not for everyone. If you are looking for excitement on every page, look elsewhere. However, if you want beautiful writing, an expansive discussion of love and friendship and the sea, with enough adventure to keep you going, this is the place."
" Slowest so far... "
" One of the more enjoyable of the Jack Aubrey Books "
" another jack aubrey/stephen maturin napoleonic era sea saga. the writing is excellent with well developed, multi dimensional characters, interesting historical and nautical facts and a good action yarn to boot. a terrific series of books. "
" Short on naval action. "
" Not the best of the Aubrey-Maturin series but sufficient if you like that sort of thing. "
" Two books in one. The first about Aubrey at the tedious blockade of Toulon is too long. The second, the actual Ionian mission is too short. "
" O'Brian is awesome! "
" Re-read one year later, Sept 2012, because I brought it on a trip by mistake. It had no problem remaining fresh and entertaining because why? Because The Aubrey/Maturin books are freaking genius, that's why. "
" Another great episode in the Aubrey / Maturin series; again, rated 4 stars due to the large number of typos in the Norton hardcover edition I am reading. "
" For me, the weakest thus far. Just did not build enough dramatic energy and seemed to fizzle out by the end. Still, O'Brian's work is wonderful and I will go on reading the rest. Unmatched for delivering a period voice and feel with superb characterisations. "
" Finally got through this with two renewals at the library! Many happy moments, but I think I need a breather. "
" The Aubrey/Maturin books fall under the category of "guilty pleasure". Still, they are a pleasure.... "
" Slower and more disjointed than the previous installments, but ends with one of the best battles in the series. "
" I was going to give this book three stars...until the last ten pages...wow... "
" Love the detail, and imagine that the battle are scenes are as chaotic as O'Brian describes them. "
" The first disappointing O'Brian. "
" Continuing with my re-read of the Aubrey-Maturin novels, still one of the best things I have ever read "
" This was a lot like the Horatio Hornblower series, but not as good. "
" Another great chapter in the great historical fiction series by Patrick O'Brian. "
" The book itself is a great read. The audiobook is better read by Patrick Tull, the original reader when the series was produced by Recorded Books. "
" A solid book, but not as much fun as the previous few. "
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.
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.
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