I absolutely lost myself in Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey-Maturin series. Somehow I had never heard of this series until the Master and Commander movie, which I enjoyed so much I bought the DVD. The making-of portion of the DVD discussed the entire series of books, so I began reading and did not stop until the last, partially completed "21." I have now read the series through twice. In a way I am glad that I did not become aware of the series until after Patrick O'Brien's death because I was able to "chain read" the series. I am in awe of the author's writing, his meticulous research, and his ability to create such memorable characters and spin an incredibly good yarn. ( )

Worth the effort: From reading the previous reviews it is apparent that this novel polarises opinions like few others, i.e. you'll either love it or hate it. People who hate it find the language archaic, "eighteenth century nautical terms scattered like confetti", the characters wooden and hard to sympathise with, and struggle to engage with the novelist. Many readers, perhaps enticed by the Russell Crowe film, will find themselves buying this book and then struggling to get beyond the first chapter. It is not easy reading, not like Sharpe, or Hornblower that you can race through, especially at the outset. However, if you like a book with a bit of substance behind it, are prepared to do a little bit of work to understand what is going on, and will give the characters room to breathe, you may just find yourself rewarded beyond expectations as a treasurehouse opens up before you.

This is the first of a series of twenty novels and you really do need to read them in sequence, (1. Master and Commander, 2. Post Captain, 3. HMS Surprise etc.),as the author tends to tell you something once and then expects you to remember it. If you start with The Far Side of the World, number ten, because of the film, you will be hopelessly adrift; nothing the characters do or say will make any sense, and the plot is very different from the film so you will not recognise what you are reading.

Start with this one then, book one and don't just skim it for the adventure story. Climb the rigging with the lubberly Dr Stephen Maturin and listen as he has explained to him the masts, yards and sails of the Sophie. After only a few pages you know the difference between the foremast and the mizzen, the stays, tops and ratlines. You will benefit from getting some maps; Minorca and the Spanish coast east of Gibraltar (look them up as soon as the place names come out of the text). You want to get a feel for the shape of the coast, harbours and ports. Don't spend any money, just five minutes with the Google map facility and print them off, nicely magnified so you get all the capes and points. Now you can feel the tension as the Sophie ducks under the enemy guns, steals a prize and races for safety with a half dozen frigates in hot pursuit; all the naval engagements make a whole lot more sense; you might even mark the positions of the vessels and follow their movements; Patrick O'Brian gives you enough description to clearly visualise every detail and this is where he scores most of his points and wins his lifelong devotees. The author had vast resources of knowledge about naval engagements of the period and most of the action is painstakingly recreated from real events, as reported by those who took part in them. This is far more than historical fiction, it is the bringing back to vivid life of a period of our relatively recent history.

Next if you find the story intriguing but the nautical terms frustrating (you are not alone in this), you might consider purchasing a reference book: The World of Jack Aubrey by David Miller (I paid £5.99), a shortish, hard-backed book for the twenty-first century reader, full of diagrams and explanations and with a glossary of technical terms. The mysteries of the stunsail, the use of the log, the bells of the watch and the use of the glass will all become clear, along with good descriptions of the various vessels that feature, from lateens to bum-boats, sloops and brigs, the points of the compass and the different fighting styles of the British and French men o' war (British preferred solid shot aimed at the hull that sent explosions of splinters through the enemy crew, wheras the French preferred chain and grape shot to disable and capture.

A further book is a worthwhile purchase, Admiral W.H. Smyth's The Sailor's Word-Book (Conway £9.99). This fat period tome comprises over 14,000 nautical and naval terms, every technical word used by Patrick O'Brian is in there, described in crisp clarity, the Admiral spent the seven years of his retirement from 1858 - 1865 working on this mine of information and the Aubrey/Maturin enthusiast will have this reference close by at all times.

To bring the experience fully to life I would also recommend a day out to the Portsmouth historic harbour; a couple of hours inhaling the air aboard the H.M.S. Victory touching the cables and absorbing the perspectives will be well spent.

If you find yourself shouting, "Vast that anchor", to your wife in the Sainsbury's car park, and your kids buy you a parrot for Christmas then it's possible that you might be allowing your enthusiasm to carry you a little too far, but until then, enjoy the journey.

A few months ago, I watched a documentary of O'Brian that was done in the late 90s before his death. He was cagey about his life, but I was amused because all the personal info was complete lies. After re-reading Master and Commander, I have a theory about that. O'Brian was a man from that time. He was from 1800. Oh yes, the structures of the books are quite modern, but he writes with the knowledge of the native. He knew this world. He was a time traveler. That's the only logical explanation. ( )

Excellent book, excellent series. O'Brian's writing intertwines adventure, action, maritime drama, sailing ships, science, espionage and politics, not to mention romance.

My father summed up this guy in a word, "Ponderous." ( )

Am I strange for leaping on the bandwagon and buying a newly released edition of a book with a picture from the film that's just been made of it on the front of the book when I haven't even seen the film yet? Lots of people raved about the film, and I like reading, and the book was on 3 for 2 in Borders, and well there we are.

I found it a little slow to get going at first, and oddly disjointed in places. It has a habit of skipping the boring bits and going on to the next bit that's happening, which is fair enough - in a sea-going thing like this there's going to be a lot of just getting from A to B with not much happening. It just does it in a slightly odd way which took me a while to get used to. Instead of just saying 'Nothing much happened for a bit' and then going on it tends to just leap forward over the gap and talk of what's happening now and just throw in a quick 'nothing much happened since the last thing, did it' after the fact.

I enjoyed it anyway. It's a good yarn, and I expect if I were to read more of them I'd enjoy them too, not to mention find them easier going as I get more to grips with the naval terms used. Having one of the characters be a non-Navy chap on-board and learning them himself did help. Not entirely sure I sympathise entirely with any of the characters, though many of them are likeable, perhaps I like Stephen best. Jack Aubrey himself is just a bit too, something, flighty, over-enthusiastic, I don't know. And of course it's a bit short on women, but that's only to be expected. The historical detail I am told is fascinating and accurate: to me it simply pleased by being convincing and not too intrusive.

I feel like I'm damning with terribly faint praise here, but can't find anything more throughly positive to say. Still, I'd like to see the film some time. But maybe I should try and read the rest of the books up to and including the other one in the series that the film was based on first :-) ( )

The first book in the series, and with very little connection to the movie of the same name. Somewhat slowed down by the sailors explaining sailing minutiae to Maturin (more so than the rest of the series), but it does have a rollicking end. ( )

Great introduction of the classic pairing of maturin and aubrey and there adventure. There is similarity between this series and marryat novels, but these are just as good. ( )

The amount of sailing jargon can be very offputting but don't let it get to you. Much, if not most, of it can be ignored. ( )

Patrick O'Brian takes you completely into the world of an 18th century sea captain in the Royal Navy. He is truly one of the finest writers ever. I will read the Aubrey-Maturin series of books over and over and over again. ( )

Despite my oft-expressed desire to run away to sea, I am actually not really on board with the whole piratical genre (is that a word? I think I've made it up) and did not really like Pirates of the Caribbean and its successors. And equally, I am not good with novels of the sea generally, or historical novels, mainly because I'm not entirely sure I see the appeal. I like spaceships more than history. But Aubrey and Maturin going to sea, and bickering, and Not Getting Drunk, and That Is Totally Medicinal Honest, and bickering some more, and sighing after each other, and then there being a nice digression into rigging! and masts! and topgallants! and mainbraces and the splicing thereof! and then suddenly a ship comes in from nowhere and there is a battle and a boarding and a claiming of swords, and then more sighing, and then someone drinks the wine out of Maturin's asp (Not A Euphemism Honest) and it is the most joyous 400 pages I have read in a long while.

In all seriousness, I don't think Master and Commander works as a novel, because although the characters are wonderfully drawn, Maturin particularly, quirks and nuances and interior monologues of joy and wonder, backstory and all, nothing much seems to be done with them. The plot is mostly sea battles and other diversions, and is great fun, but does not do much beyond immerse you thoroughly into the world. Which, it must be said, it does excellently - I don't think I actually am criticising here. I love the small details, the gleeful touches of humour, and probably if I had read the book at a more formative age I would be even more on board the running-away-to-sea bandwagon.

- Iona

To read again and again. Since I have all of O'Brian's books in this series listed I am sure you will take it for granted that I consider them 5star reading material. I have read them all twice and will probably read them again. ( )

A sea adventure of the top notch. The story of the captain of a ship, Jack Aubrey, in HMS, during the early 1800s, this book is full of little details of life aboard ship intricately woven into the narrative. You will also meet Stephen Maturin, a physician who finds himself aboard as a ship's surgeon. I love the details of medical knowledge and treatment at that time, again, woven into the tale. The author has a gift of helping you understand the nautical terminology and battle events. This was a real page turner and I'm looking forward to more books in the series. ( )

First in the Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin series, set 1800-1801 British Navy, Port Mahon, Minorca and Mediterranean Sea; focuses on their meeting and several battles, culminating in the Battle of Algeciras Bay. Moderate profanity, references to sex, moderate violence, references to homosexuality.

I just finished this for perhaps the fourth or fifth time.

This is the first book in the greatest collection of stories in the english language.

The main characters are the most realistic and fully human in any fiction I have come across. I seriously think that Aubrey and Maturin would have delighted Dickens.

I laughed and cried again this time.

- - -

If the historical or warfare themes are putting you off then just give the first one a try.

You will soon appreciate that the detailed historical backdrops and exquisitely full flavour of the period are simply added bonuses as you peer inside our characters heads and see bits of yourself laid bare.

- - -

You will find yourself evangelising about these books with such phrases as, "Which it is one to wipe any other authors' eye."

You might find yourself, as I did, engaged in conversation about the books by a guard on a train back from London this week. We exchanged a meaningful glance to acknowledge our jointly privileged view of the human condition.

You might find yourself re-reading the books every couple of years and finding out new things about yourself each time when you do.

- - -

Anyway - there is not a moment to be lost - go read them for all love. ( )

I listened to this on my ipod after being unsuccessful at reading the book. A friend has assured me that later books are fantastic and I have to "get through" this one first. So I have. It was fairly enjoyable, but the ship terms were like a foreign language that I'm learning by immersion. It was good enough to keep me going on to Post Captain. ( )

There was a lot to like about this book. I liked the fact that it is written in the language of the time. You really feel that you are sailing on the sloop Sophie in the late 1700's. I saw the movie with Russel Crowe and this helped me a lot in understanding what was going on. Though the movie and novel are not in sync at all, the flavour of the book is captured in the movie. Russel Crowe certainly captured the essence of Jack Aubry and the other actor playing the ship's physcian (sorry I forget his name) did justice to Stephan in the book. The movie and book make a good paring.

What I did not like though was that the battles were always too short for me...they are descriptive enough in essence by not in substance....I wanted more description....the movie spoiled me in that regard since it was excellent.

I don't know if the series gets better but it is definately worth a continuance. ( )

I have to confess, I couldn't follow the action in this book. Flashes of good writing but most of the tale and its references went straight over my head.

I have to confess, I couldn't follow the action in this book. Flashes of good writing but most of the tale and its references went straight over my head.

After enjoying Patrick O'Brian's biography of Joseph Banks this summer, I decided it was time to give his Aubrey-Maturin series another try. The last time I started Master and Commander (probably in middle school), I never got into it and didn't get past the second or third chapter before I gave up. I enjoyed it much more this time around, but I don't think it transformed me into an obsessive O'Brian fan (maybe the next one will).

The book's detailed depiction of Napoleonic naval life is nicely done, and its characters are interesting and memorable. There were moments where I was completely riveted to the text, and when I laughed out loud at some of the shipboard antics. But there were also some stretches where I wished something, anything, would happen (to be fair, I suppose naval life must have had those stretches too). A bit more background would have been useful as well, just by way of setting the stage.

Nonetheless, this volume provides a good, strong opening to the series with an introduction of the characters, particularly the earthy Aubrey and the cerebral, contemplative Maturin. A pity to lose one of the other more interesting folks right at the beginning of the series, but presumably others will take his place.

I can see why these volumes are well-loved by so many, and I will look forward to the second, after a short shore leave.

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

6.5

This book opens the series that has been described as the best historical fiction ever written. When you get to complete the first ten books you will be minded to agree. They are gripping, well crafted, erudite, amusing and full of humanity. The historical battles are closely based on what actually happened in real naval engagements.
The two main characters, Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin are wonderfully conceived, complex and entirely believable.
If you have not started this series then you have a real delight ahead! ( )

greta historical yarn, but not a written well .suffers from jargon , archaic words . I have to reread too many passages. Great insight into life in Nelsons Royal Navy, Napoleonic wars ,
and the heat of deadly naval battle. ( )

Interesting wording - uses nautical terms from the good old sailing days. Not heavy on character development, unclear, at times, what is going on. ( )

http://faerye.net/post/master-and-com... ( )