The Yellow Admiral Audiobook, by Patrick O'Brian Play Audiobook Sample

The Yellow Admiral Audiobook

The Yellow Admiral Audiobook, by Patrick O'Brian Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Patrick Tull Publisher: Recorded Books, LLC Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 7.00 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Aubrey–Maturin Series Release Date: December 2015 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781402581762

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

19

Longest Chapter Length:

59:48 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

02:31 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

33:05 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

65

Other Audiobooks Written by Patrick O'Brian: > View All...

Publisher Description

Life ashore may once again be the undoing of Jack Aubrey in The Yellow Admiral, Patrick O’Brian’s bestselling novel and eighteenth volume in the Aubrey-Maturin series.

Aubrey, now a considerable though impoverished landowner, has dimmed his prospects at the Admiralty by his erratic voting as a Member of Parliament; he is feuding with his neighbor, a man with strong navy connections who wants to enclose the common land between their estates; he is on even worse terms with his wife, Sophie, whose mother has ferreted out a most damaging trove of old personal letters. Even Jack’s exploits at sea turn sour: in the storm waters off Brest he captures a French privateer laden with gold and ivory, but this at the expense of missing a signal and deserting his post. Worst of all, in the spring of 1814, peace breaks out, and this feeds into Jack’s private fears for his career.

Fortunately, Jack is not left to his own devices. Stephen Maturin returns from a mission in France with the news that the Chileans, to secure their independence, require a navy, and the service of English officers. Jack is savoring this apparent reprieve for his career, as well as Sophie’s forgiveness, when he receives an urgent dispatch ordering him to Gibraltar…

…Napoleon has escaped from Elba.

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"Captain Jack Aubrey navigates several challenges: supporting the rights of unlanded families in his district to a piece of uncultivated property; serving under an admiral who had an interest in cultivating that property, which predisposes him to write poor reports about Jack, thus killing Jack's chances of ever commanding a squadron; dealing with fallout from an old extra-marital affair. Sometimes you just can't get the better of turkeys like your commanding officer or your mother-in-law. You have to put up with the unjust consequences . . . and wait for Patrick O'Brian to kill both of them in the next book."

— Jocelyn (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “If there were seventeen more novels, I’d start today.”

    — Wall Street Journal
  • “This series is some of the finest historical fiction of our time, transforming a musty genre into art.”

    — Los Angeles Times
  • “O’Brian is at the top of his elegant form here. He offers a wealth of sly humor…some splendid set pieces, characters who are palpably real and, as always, lapidary prose. This is splendid storytelling from a true master.”

    — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
  • “Fans of O’Brian’s previous novels will find themselves well rewarded.”

    — Booklist

The Yellow Admiral Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.609375 out of 53.609375 out of 53.609375 out of 53.609375 out of 53.609375 out of 5 (3.61)
5 Stars: 16
4 Stars: 19
3 Stars: 20
2 Stars: 6
1 Stars: 3
Narration: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 3
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 4.33333333333333 out of 54.33333333333333 out of 54.33333333333333 out of 54.33333333333333 out of 54.33333333333333 out of 5 (4.33)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 2
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    — Bruce Jondle, 1/25/2023
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — David Bamford, 1/6/2023
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    — Doug , 6/29/2021
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Captain Jack Aubrey and ship's surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin suffer the tedium of a naval blockade but, before long, Stephen's murky activities require them to engage in dangerous missions. Jack's peace of mind is threatened by secrets from the past and concerns over his career progression. "

    — JoTownhead, 2/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I'm getting a bit bothered with this series. I'm very nearly finished so I will press on to complete the series. More with the next reviews. "

    — John, 2/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " originally read 13 Dec 2007 "

    — Chaundra, 2/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book like all the other in the Aubrey-Maturin series but it's not quite as exciting - fewer and less impressive sea battles, more time spent on land, and less of Stephen in general made it fall a bit short for me. "

    — Karen, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book like all the other in the Aubrey-Maturin series but it's not quite as exciting - fewer and less impressive sea battles, more time spent on land, and less of Stephen in general made it fall a bit short for me. "

    — Karen, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The series remains so good but with only 2 books and the partial final book... I don't want to rush to start reading more of them... because it will be sad to finish them. Such really beautiful writing. "

    — Matt, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is a page turner and a sensitive view of the life on board ship in the napoleonic wars. Then the sailors go home and we follow them. I am interested to be on the water with these men. "

    — Judy, 1/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This is where they start to fall off. This might be the worst of the series... pretty much nothing happens. "

    — Michael, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fairly consistent in keeping with the rest of the series - much of the plot happening with implied comments and silences than going into specific detail. As occurred about 3 books into the series, as there have already been plenty of detailed sea battles, they have been mostly glossed over with the detail shifting to other aspects of early 19th century life. The good doctor, as always is the foil for the detailed discussions of life through his (occasionally somewhat unbelievable) ignorance. "

    — R., 1/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Great book, but not as good as the beginning of the series. "

    — Robert, 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Nowhere near my favorite of the Aubrey-Mataurin, but when you write 10,000 pages on the same character, there are some that are only good instead of great. "

    — Andrew, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " My God O'Brien is a great author. "

    — Tom, 12/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Maybe my least-favorite of the Aubrey/Maturin books, one of the rare times when it feels like O'Brian is just working through his research "Oh, enclosures of the commons, that ought to be good for 1/3 of a book... " "

    — Larry, 12/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I continue to love this series. "

    — Ahf, 12/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Captain Jack Aubrey and ship's surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin suffer the tedium of a naval blockade but, before long, Stephen's murky activities require them to engage in dangerous missions. Jack's peace of mind is threatened by secrets from the past and concerns over his career progression. "

    — JoTownhead, 12/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " #18 in Aubrey-Maturin naval series "

    — Catherine, 12/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " While reading this book, I found it the most boring and pointless in the series. By the third page of the following book I appreciated the point of The Yellow Admiral much more--O'Brian spends TYA getting back to the family life and social issues that are missed at sea, which is important for developing the characters although harder to appreciate at the time. "

    — Morgan, 12/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Great book, but not as good as the beginning of the series. "

    — Robert, 12/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 1st Recorded Reading: August 2001 "

    — Kathryn, 11/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I'm getting a bit bothered with this series. I'm very nearly finished so I will press on to complete the series. More with the next reviews. "

    — John, 9/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Wish he'd written 100 "

    — Booksthailand, 9/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " meh, not my favorite... "

    — Erin, 8/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I continue to love this series. "

    — Ahf, 8/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Great, surprisingly one of my favorites, this late in the game. Poetically written, elegiac at times. Exciting ending. "

    — Scott, 8/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I've liked all of this series and this one is no exception. It provides a good lead-in to the next one, which obviously concerns the last outbreak of the Napoleonic wars. Simon Vance does an excellent job of reading this series. "

    — Bonnie, 8/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " #18...and the series still is a great read! "

    — Sandy, 7/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A solid addition to the series, with some truly delightful moments. "

    — Angela, 6/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I somehow missed the parts where Stephen gets his money back, and Blaine get married. Huh. "

    — Squeaky, 1/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I love love love these books; I'm on my second time through. When I get to the end, I fully expect to go back to Master and Commander and start all over again! "

    — Peter, 12/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A very good pervasive aura of melancholy. The characters are getting older, in both good and bad ways; every victory seems to lead to a defeat. "

    — S., 12/3/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 19 in the series. Really great historical fiction. I listened to some Horatio Hornblower novels this year as well and while those are good Patrick O'Brians two main characters are the best. "

    — Stephanie, 11/9/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The series remains so good but with only 2 books and the partial final book... I don't want to rush to start reading more of them... because it will be sad to finish them. Such really beautiful writing. "

    — Matt, 8/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is a page turner and a sensitive view of the life on board ship in the napoleonic wars. Then the sailors go home and we follow them. I am interested to be on the water with these men. "

    — Judy, 8/22/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Not one of O'Brian's best. "

    — Dave, 7/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " ..OULALA "

    — Chouchou, 7/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A very good pervasive aura of melancholy. The characters are getting older, in both good and bad ways; every victory seems to lead to a defeat. "

    — S., 7/11/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Love all the books that I have read in this series. Need to get back to them. "

    — Penny, 3/2/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Maybe my least-favorite of the Aubrey/Maturin books, one of the rare times when it feels like O'Brian is just working through his research "Oh, enclosures of the commons, that ought to be good for 1/3 of a book... " "

    — Larry, 7/31/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A little too much blockade work. "

    — Will, 7/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The fact that I have only three more books until i must bid farewell to Jack and Stephen forever fills me with unspeakable sorrow. "

    — Richard, 6/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Nice. More of the same. Not enough nautical stuff in this one though. I want more action. "

    — Aaron, 6/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This is where they start to fall off. This might be the worst of the series... pretty much nothing happens. "

    — Michael, 5/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It would have been great if he had lived to finish it. As for the last chapters, could somebody just type the damned thing out? "

    — Lee, 4/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " See my first review. "

    — Brynne, 11/29/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The untitled, unfinished #21 volume, the end of the series...the author died before it was finished--and perhaps it was better that way: no possibly unsatisfying endings. Adieu. "

    — Sandy, 10/9/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " #18...and the series still is a great read! "

    — Sandy, 10/2/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It is always sad to think of authors starting a book and then dieing before it is finished. I wonder if when Patrick O'Brian started this if he intended it to be the last and how he would have finished--Jack sailing off into the sunset or settling at home?Probably sailing. "

    — Melinda, 9/24/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " What little there was to read was wonderful, but I'm left depressed that these amazingly complex and living characters are done forever now that the author is gone. "

    — Robert, 9/14/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Only three stars... what gives? Of course, this is because the novel was left unfinished by the death of the author. I have the sense of hearing a great symphony only to be left hanging by the absence of the final great chord. "

    — Joshua, 5/16/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The fact that I have only three more books until i must bid farewell to Jack and Stephen forever fills me with unspeakable sorrow. "

    — Richard, 5/3/2010
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Warning, for fans of the Aubrey/Maturin series: this book is quite an anticlimax and would best be avoided by all but the most curious to read the final unfinished, sparsely edited frame of a story. Book 20 is a fine conclusion to an amazing series--leave it there. "

    — Jonathan, 3/22/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Capt. Aubrey and Dr. Maturin #18. "

    — Bradley, 2/16/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Three chapters of a first draft. "

    — Craig, 11/16/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The series remains so good but with only 2 books and the partial final book... I don't want to rush to start reading more of them... because it will be sad to finish them. Such really beautiful writing. "

    — Matt, 9/18/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I'm glad I read it, even though it was only three chapters. It left off with the characters in good state, and it is kind of nice to think of them sailing on- with some idea where there next adventure would take them and what it would involve. "

    — Becca, 9/8/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book like all the other in the Aubrey-Maturin series but it's not quite as exciting - fewer and less impressive sea battles, more time spent on land, and less of Stephen in general made it fall a bit short for me. "

    — Karen, 8/31/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Unfinished when O'Brian died but interesting nonetheless to see what would have happened to Aubrey & Maturin. "

    — Grace, 7/31/2009
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " A waste of time and far too much money, in the hardback especially. For those of us who wanted the Aubrey/Maturin series to go on forever, this was the final proof that O'Brian had died. "

    — Pat, 6/1/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Final book in the series which I started 5/07 - averaging one per month. Latter books don't seem quite to riveting as the first ones, but maybe it was me that changed! Good but sad ending with the death of O'Brian. "

    — Catherine, 2/24/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This was interesting, had to special order it but a little sad -- Cool to see the handwritten text with corrections on one page and the standard printed text on the other.... "

    — David, 1/17/2009
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I liked this more than I expected to. "

    — Kristen, 12/20/2008

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.

About Patrick Tull

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.