When last seen, Jack and Stephen had been shipwrecked on a desert island in the glittering South China Sea. The Nutmeg of Consolation opens as the castaways fashion a makeshift vessel from the wreckage, only to have it destroyed in a fiery attack by Malay pirates. Only the wondrous ingenuity of Stephen, along with the unexpected appearance of one of Jack's oldest allies, leads them to escape-and to dubious safety in a penal colony at New South Wales.
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"The Nutmeg of Consolation is more of an adventurous sea story than its predecessor, but even it revels more in naval life than naval action and more in Maturin's naturalistic activities, intelligence work, and music than combat. Aubrey and Maturin spend time marooned, refit the Nutmeg, cruise in search of a larger French frigate, rendezvous with the Surprise, and explore the brutal society and fascinating natural life of Australia. A real pleasure to enter this world remade from history."
— Tim (5 out of 5 stars)
" 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" 1st Recorded Reading: August 2001 "
— Kathryn, 2/17/2014" I enjoyed this least of all the series thus far. Still a good read but not as enjoyable not action packed. "
— Ian, 2/13/2014" Love these naval adventure stories and the prose and speech style reminiscent of Dickens. Just love them. "
— Sandi, 2/12/2014" This is book 14 of the series and you can tell it is book 14. O'Brian tends to write his books in large chunks whose plots can span several books. Yet I find it easy to become immersed in his narratives. If you haven't read this series and you like historical fiction, I suggest starting with the first book Master and Commander Master and Commander, that one's my favorite. "
— Brett, 2/7/2014" Picks up directly after the events of The Thirteen Gun Salute; and remains centered on the South Pacific to include Java and Sydney. Detailed imagery of the penal life in Australia. "
— Mike, 2/5/2014" I loved this one! And maybe that doesn't mean much when I've loved almost all of this series, but somehow O'Brian keeps getting better and better. I adore how this crew of hard soldiers and seafarers can be so very human and vulnerable. "
— Kiri, 2/4/2014" I think I'm getting faster at reading these. This one was particularly good, I was worried and on the edge of my seat the whole book. I was so concerned for Stephan and Jack. "
— Courtney, 1/31/2014" bliss. If you love historical fiction! "
— Am, 1/26/2014" Any book that ends with a main character rendered unconscious by a platypus is alright by me. "
— Ken-ichi, 1/15/2014" Stephen is adorable, but also scary. Rats should not be given cocaine. Male platypuses have a poisonous barb. Australia is scary. And the birds-nest-soup swallow is in fact not a swallow at all. "
— Angela, 1/1/2014" Audiobook. Usual fun read in the Jack Aubrey series. "
— Celeste, 12/29/2013" This one regains ground and buoys the series back to its usual high standard. "
— J.E., 12/26/2013" Cruising towards completion of the series ... "
— Jackivers, 12/21/2013" 1st Recorded Reading: August 2001 "
— Kathryn, 12/20/2013" Plagues, duck-billed platypuses, Sarah and Emily, news of the birth Stephen's baby daughter, the reunion with Padeen, Sydney Harbour, and an allusion to Austen writing Persuasion: another excellent read, and, thanks to Patrick Tull, an excellent listen as well. "
— Elizabeth, 11/26/2013" Another in the continuing adventures of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin-- a shipwreck, pirates, Australia. This was book #14...and I look forward to #15. "
— Sandy, 10/17/2013" The whole series is addictive and great. This man can write a sentence, has a great vocabulary and can tell a story. I had to stop before the last couple of books in the series because I couldn't face finishing O'Brian's work. "
— Jean, 10/15/2013" This one regains ground and buoys the series back to its usual high standard. "
— J.E., 10/12/2013" Duck Billed Platypuses are weird "
— Dwight, 8/24/2013" Jack and Stephen are back in the South China Seas and make another stop at Botany Bay in this installment. Listened to the audio version read by Patrick Tull. "
— Sandi, 8/21/2013" Number 14 in the series. 'Nuff said! "
— Paul, 5/19/2013" Rats get into Stephen's cocaine stash. Things go downhill from there. "
— marginalia, 3/4/2013" Previously read May 1, 2009. Aubrey and Maturin in Sydney. "
— Greg, 2/13/2013" Duck Billed Platypuses are weird "
— Dwight, 1/16/2013" Another good and varied tale which forms part of the long story arc. Picking up with the crew shipwrecked in the Pacific, the story leads us to New South Wales. "
— Stephen, 11/23/2012" Wow--somehow these keep being great and so much fun. "
— Tagg, 10/7/2012" Number 14 in the series. 'Nuff said! "
— Paul, 9/27/2012" I particularly enjoyed this one. I nearly wept at the polar bear story. And I thought EVERYONE knew about the platypus! "
— Squeaky, 9/21/2012" Another wonderful book in the series. O'Brian gives us a typically abrupt ending, but then all his books do that. I am delighted with Sarah and Emily and hope we hear more about them. And I love it when Stephen shows that he, too, can be a man of action. "
— Brackman1066, 8/30/2012" Love these naval adventure stories and the prose and speech style reminiscent of Dickens. Just love them. "
— Sandi, 4/19/2012" Wow--somehow these keep being great and so much fun. "
— Tagg, 4/11/2012" The title of this book is so unusual. Who would have thought that there would be a ship with that name? I enjoyed this one as much as the others and am ready to start the next one. "
— ghostlibrarian, 2/28/2012" Always a delight, but the volumes without any big battles always leave me just a little bit hungry. "
— Richard, 2/2/2012" I particularly enjoyed this one. I nearly wept at the polar bear story. And I thought EVERYONE knew about the platypus! "
— Squeaky, 12/31/2011" Terrifically interesting and (as ever) unexpected "
— Mackay, 7/7/2011" Plagues, duck-billed platypuses, Sarah and Emily, news of the birth Stephen's baby daughter, the reunion with Padeen, Sydney Harbour, and an allusion to Austen writing Persuasion: another excellent read, and, thanks to Patrick Tull, an excellent listen as well. "
— Elizabeth, 6/30/2011" Much more action-packed than the previous :"13 gun salute". Without spoiling it, I love it when the nerdy and reserved Dr. Maturin duels, maims, or kills someone. He is like a quiet powder keg waiting to go off- what a temper. "
— Aaron, 4/30/2011" Much more action-packed than the previous :"13 gun salute". Without spoiling it, I love it when the nerdy and reserved Dr. Maturin duels, maims, or kills someone. He is like a quiet powder keg waiting to go off- what a temper. "
— Aaron, 4/30/2011" This one regains ground and buoys the series back to its usual high standard. "
— J.E., 11/29/2010" This one regains ground and buoys the series back to its usual high standard. "
— J.E., 11/29/2010" Another in the continuing adventures of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin-- a shipwreck, pirates, Australia. This was book #14...and I look forward to #15. "
— Sandy, 9/9/2010" Another in the continuing adventures of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin-- a shipwreck, pirates, Australia. This was book #14...and I look forward to #15. "
— Sandy, 9/9/2010" Any book that ends with a main character rendered unconscious by a platypus is alright by me. "
— Ken-ichi, 8/18/2010" Any book that ends with a main character rendered unconscious by a platypus is alright by me. "
— Ken-ichi, 8/18/2010" Stephen is adorable, but also scary. Rats should not be given cocaine. Male platypuses have a poisonous barb. Australia is scary. And the birds-nest-soup swallow is in fact not a swallow at all. "
— Angela, 8/9/2010" Stephen is adorable, but also scary. Rats should not be given cocaine. Male platypuses have a poisonous barb. Australia is scary. And the birds-nest-soup swallow is in fact not a swallow at all. "
— Angela, 8/9/2010" 1st Recorded Reading: August 2001 "
— Kathryn, 4/23/2009Patrick 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.