Please see my comments on Vol. 1, Master and Commander. ( )

Patrick O'Brian Fan...: This is the second book a series which is most entertaining to me. There are people who may not like all the information about life on ships and sailing them but the action and the relationships between the characters is totally riviting. I even had to buy the companion books, one of which is "A Sea Of Words" to understand what I was reading and laughing at. I don't know if I would sugest reading these books out of order since they are so much fun going from the first to the last.

I’ll offer a single review of the late Patrick O’Brian’s twenty Aubrey/Maturin novels. I’ve never read another series of novels so consistently excellent. These sweeping yet personally engaging stories of the British Royal Navy of the early 19th Century are about war, espionage, exploration, politics, treason, science, medicine, great and ordinary men and women, friendship, morality . . . the grand themes of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I’ve read the entire series four times. My Christmas present to myself this year was to replace the few remaining paperbacks in my collection with hardbacks, and once they arrive I’ll start reading the series again, in order. Every time I re-read these books I discover they’re not only as good as I remembered, they’re better. ( )

When I read Master and Commander (review), I wasn't sure how long I would go before I picked up Post Captain, the second of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books. Needing some fiction to read for the holiday travels, though, I snagged a copy, and will say that O'Brian's got me fully hooked now. Adding some dramatic flesh to Maturin's character helped, as did the more three-dimensional treatment of Aubrey in this book than the last. Even the battle scenes seemed much improved.

Since I don't go in for plot synopses in my reviews I'll quit there and just say that I suspect I'll be back for more O'Brian before very much time passes.

http://philobiblos.blogspot.com/2008/... ( )

Depending on how one likes one's books, it was either superior to the first or somewhat lacking. It was less of an action-adventure tale and more of a "proper novel" with character development and the examination of relationships and what-not. I tend to the second camp. It was, however, still a superb book and I am quite looking forward to the next in the series. ( )

The second in the Aubrey/Maturin saga; maintains the pace of the first and unfolds the personalities of the key characters in a way that intrigues and always rings true. The action sequences are very gripping and in this book and those that follow O'Brian proves a master of suspense. That said, action never dominates and you cannot afford to skip a single paragraph - there is always something to delight in the way the story unfolds or a detail of early 19th century life is given. ( )

There were one or two parts of this which didn't quite work for me—the incident with the bear was too different, tonally, from the rest of the book—and some of the plotting is a little lumpy. I have to disagree with most people, though, and say that I adored the opening sections; as big a fan as I am of Austen and of comedies of manners, I wallowed in how O'Brian sketched out Jack and Stephen's adventures on land. ( )

The first part of this book sees our heroes Aubrey and Maturin, nowhere near the sea. In fact, it seems that they’ve wandered into a Jane Austen novel as they intrigue with a family of proper young women. Not that I preferred the non-stop battle of the first novel, but I was glad when they finally get on a ship and head out to sea. Capt. Aubrey has been brought down a few pegs since the conclusion of Master and Commander and it takes him a bit of blundering to once again prove himself in an attack on a French harbor. This would seem to be the conclusion of the novel as Capt. Aubrey at last achieves the rank of Post Captain, but then it seems as if another story begins – perhaps one not long enough for its own book – with Dr. Maturin oddly playing comic relief. I felt as if this whole book was but a chapter or two in the longer 17 volume opus, rather than a book that stands on its own. I enjoyed reading it, but its disjointed nature made it a struggle to like. ( )

This second book in the series doesn't move along as quickly as Master and Commander did. That might be due to the fact that much of the events occur on land, setting up the relationships between the two men and Sophia and Diana. Clearly these will be important characters in future volumes and, therefore, it was necessary to do so. However, the lack of naval action, particularly in the first part of the book, did slow things down a bit as a result...not to the point of dragging, but noticeable.

Still, I definitely enjoyed it and will return for H. M. S. Surprise. As with the first book in the series, they are beautifully written. I particularly like the fact that O'Brian does not dumb down the naval terminology as some other Hornblower-esque series have done; if you don't know what a stud sail is or what made a frigate a frigate in the 18th century, then he leaves it to you to find out.

Though only two books into this series so far, these are definitely on my Recommend list.
( )

A Favorite Passage:

"Let me look to your pistols," said Jack, as the trees came closer to the road. "You have no notion of hammering your flints."

Very enjoyable: the characters and situations have all grown exponentially in depth since the first book. ( )

You know, when you read a really, really good book, you are quite afraid to read the sequel sometimes, for fear that it will not be as good. Not only is Post Captain as good as Master and Commander, some might say it’s even better.

Most of the book actually takes place on land, hopefully dispelling the myth that these books are only about sailors who like to drink and shoot cannons at other ships. Aubrey and Maturin are spending some time in the countryside of England following the peace agreement which ended the war, but an amazing amount of trouble soon falls upon Cptn. Aubrey, whose prize agent has run off (the modern equivalent of one’s tax preparer running off with money you owe the govt), making Aubrey responsible for an enourmous sum which he does not have. This blow comes at a particularly bad time for Aubrey, who has no ship during the peace and is not earning an income, and who has also fallen in love with a local girl and wishes to marry. To make things even more complicated, he ends up falling in love with another girl as well (oh it’s complicated I tell you ;) ), who has also caught the eye and heart of Dr. Maturin.

Fleeing England, only to arrive in France right before Napolean declares war again, and so forced to flee France incognito, they end up in Maturin’s holdings in Spain before making it back to a port where Aubrey can beg command of a ship, to help pay off his debts. That is only the first half of the book and I will not reveal more, just know that it twists and, yes, there are ships, and battles, and an attack in a dark alleyway, a betrayal, and more lovelorn twists to come. O’Brian sets up the romantic follies especially well (I am not one for romances much), and things are not always what they seem. Indeed, many people are not what they may seem, either. ( )

Second in the series, as good as the first if not better. Captain Jack on the rn from debtors (particularly likedit when these where press ganged onto his ship). HMS Polychrest, the ship with two hulls. ( )

The second installment of the Aubrey-Maturin chronicles is long, and has the unpredictable, organic rhythm one comes to expect of the books: the small and large concerns chasing each other, defeat crowding upon victory, action on small, daily joys.

This volume brings us deeper into the landed life of the two protagonists, and explores new highs and lows in their friendship. It also brings us new ships to love and hate, blazing action, and the difference between the wizened heads of male and female gibbons. ( )

Second of the Master and Commander series. I liked this one less, since a lot of it is romancing and the main characters being stupid. Still some good bits of adventure, though. ( )

Aubrey/Maturin #2 - A tribute to Jane Austen set in large part, in the mannor house. ( )

I finished this over the summer so a review would be very much lacking at this point, but I'll give my two cents anyway because this is one of my favorite books in the history of Ever.

Firstly, and this is true of all of O'Brian's novels -- the realism of his work is entirely astounding. Never before I have felt so 'near to the action', you could say, than when I'm thrown into one of Jack's insane and risky battles. ( Though I must say, the moments of Stephen/Diana interaction are equally terrifying. :P )

Second, the characters could not possibly be more fun to read about. Seriously. The conflicts are incredible and usually quite humorous, like their adventures. Their outrageous, crazy adventures.

See, I should never have done this because now I'm just babbling like a little child in a candy shop. The last thing I wanted to mention -- and then I need to stop, for everyones' sake -- is that O'Brian is one of the wisest writers I have ever read from, and despite the crazy and fun nature of the books, there is much, much more to them then an irresistible knack for adventure.

[ This review was brought to you by too much of a fangirl, with lots of excited facial expressions at the screen and with lots of love. Mostly love. ] ( )

Second in the Aubrey & Maturin series. I found this to be a much faster read than Master & Commander, which I read mostly in bits and pieces until I marooned myself with it on Block Island with little else to read.

The plot of this second in the series is more complex and I found it easier to follow as there was therefore a lot more going on than just the daily workings of a ship and sailing and waiting for the next encounter with the enemy. It is quite a funny book; much of the humor is at Aubrey's expense. ( )