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

A more somber and reflective Aubrey & Maturin novel.: The seventeenth installment of the Aubrey/Maturin series is vintage O'Brian. Those who seek mere relentless thrills and action will be disappointed. By contrast, those who enjoy a novel that flawlessly fuses historically accurate fleet actions in the Age of Sail with meditations on the nature of friendship, love, fine music, literature, wine and all that makes life worth living will come away as fulfilled as could be expected from any book in this wonderful series.

"The Commodore" finds Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N., and his friend Stephen Maturin, back in England after a prolonged, around-the-world voyage. For both, their respective home-comings are, at best bittersweet. Though substantially enriched from their last expedition, the two friends must confront personal and family challenges that are awkward at best, and, in Stephen's case, painful at worst. Over a decade has passed since the naval officer and the medical doctor/naturalist/intelligence agent had met in Port Mahon just before the Peace of Amiens. Sixteen novels later, in the waning months of the Napoleonic wars, we find them not only older, but more reflective and serious. Jack is now a Commodore, commanding a powerful squadron and charged with a complicated dual mission that will take him from England to the coast of West Africa and later, to the shores of Ireland. Stephen, his private life as complicated as ever, finds himself enmeshed in intelligence-related intrigues that threaten to reach far, far too close to home. For all that, the novel's dominant ambiance is never opressive. True to form, O'Brian provides his readers with plenty of flashes of humor and levity that pierce the somber clouds that now and again gather over the heads of the protagonists. There is a happy ending -- of sorts. As is always the case in the Aubrey/Maturin novels, the nature of happiness is always somewhat ambivalent, perhaps fleeting. But, then again, is that not true in real life?

Great novel in the Capt. Aubrey, Dr. Maturin series. ( )

http://www.bookgeeks.co.uk/2008/05/12... ( )

Another intensely pleasing installment, a little quieter than a lot of the novels, but still full of the same wonderful dialogue and character interaction. I will admit to sniffling just a little over the scenes between Stephen and Brigid at the beginning; my heart broke for him, as it did frequently throughout the rest of the novel, when he seemed so likely to give into depressed spirits and to drugs. Not a happy book for either of the boys, really, though I trust most of it will be resolved. How does one spell 'peccavi', Jack, indeed. ( )