In The Letter of Marque, Jack is once again aboard his beloved Surprise but stripped of his post captaincy for a crime he did not commit. Bought by Stephen, the Surprise has become a privateer. Sailing into French waters, the two concoct a desperate mission which, if successful, may redeem Aubrey from his state of disgrace. A nighttime battle with an unusual climax, a jewel of great value and Stephen's fondness for opium make this segment of O'Brian's masterful series both original and profoundly exciting.
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"I am reading the Aubrey-Maturin series of books one by one in order. Except for the first I have been reading the play-away books on flash memory from the Montgomery County Library. This is very good, because I get a consistent narrator. I love this series - and I have looked at many library books that go along with the series - books about the British navy of the time, etc."
— Debbie (4 out of 5 stars)
" This is perhaps my favourite of the Aubrey-Maturin series, for its depiction of the main characters under affliction, along with the usual adventures on the high seas. While the narration was good, I felt that it didn't quite do justice to the secondary characters - but that is quibbling with an overall masterful narration of the series. "
— ILRose, 10/20/2023" This may be my favorite Aubrey/Maturin tale to date. "
— Robert, 2/3/2014" As always, a ton of fun. The series just keeps getting better "
— Tagg, 1/29/2014" A nice and short read, nothing new really. :) "
— Peter, 1/20/2014" Very satisfying resurrection of Lucky Jack Aubrey. "
— Ed, 1/16/2014" Damn, I love these books. After a few accidental rereads I am now back on track with the books I have not read yet. This one is beautifully filled with sly naval tactics, political machinations, and bantering. "
— Isis, 12/21/2013" A much stronger outing than #11, full of sea battles and twists and turns of fortune. A fun read in this great series. "
— David, 12/1/2013" By far my favorite book in the series. Serious focus on Maturin! Lovely sea adventures as always, and the return of Diana. Really, what's not to love. "
— Jennifer, 11/30/2013" Once again a good read from O'Brian "
— Caleb, 11/19/2013" Another absolutely brilliant chapter in the Aubrey/Maturin saga. I worship Patrick O'Brian for his delightful characters, his seamless sea action, his humorous plot-developments and for how much he has made me love these guys. "
— Kiri, 11/16/2013Patrick 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.
Patrick Tull (1941–2006), born in the United Kingdom, was a multitalented actor of the stage, screen, and television, as well as an award-winning audiobook narrator. He acted in numerous American television shows from 1962 to 1996, including Crossroads, and he had roles in six Broadway plays between 1967 and 1992, including Amadeus. His film credits from 1969 to 1996 included roles as Cecil in Parting Glances and Jerry the bartender in Sleepers. He served as narrator for the television series Sea Tales. He narrated nearly forty audiobooks, and his readings of The Canterbury Tales, The Letter of Marque, Monk’s Hood, The Vicar of Wakefield, and How Green Was My Valley each earned him an AudioFile Earphones Award. His narration of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin novels was praised by novelist Stephen King as among his ten favorite audiobooks of 2006.