Post Captain (1972)

A steady-going follow-up to Master and Commander, Post Captain does not yet provoke the devotion that the Aubrey-Maturin series is said to induce in its readers. The nautical terminology is less bewildering – or perhaps I'm just used to it – but the book does not advance much from the promise of the first instalment.

I wrote in my review of Master and Commander that it was an investment that had not yet – but surely would – pay dividends, but Post Captain, ironically, begins with Captain Jack Aubrey fleeing a debt. His finances are in disarray, a promotion has been denied him, and he must away to sea on whatever can float. A great start, surely?

Unfortunately not, for the first half of the novel becomes mired on land, in a sort of Jane Austen-esque soap opera that sees Aubrey and his ship's doctor, Stephen Maturin, in some long-winded social courtship with two eligible young ladies. It's tolerable stuff, in its way – Post Captain is well-written from first to last – but it's not why we're here.

Naval adventure is why we're here – that, and the complementary friendship between Aubrey and Maturin – and, fortunately, the book begins to provide this in doses. Author Patrick O'Brian has an unparalleled ability to evoke the ins-and-outs of naval warfare (tacking in to the right wind, and all that other stuff) without sacrificing pace or tension, and every moment Post Captain is at sea is refreshing. In these parts, the novel is thrilling in its action, engaging in its conversation and astute in its characterisation. That this further shows the land-based scenes for their lubberliness (a bitter duel between Aubrey and Maturin is abandoned without further mention, while there is also an embarrassing sequence about one hundred pages in where Aubrey evades capture in France by disguising himself as a bear) is by the by. When O'Brian engages the enemy more closely, we can hardly wait to follow him in. ( )

The prose of this book really wasn't my favorite, but I found the story rather interesting. I read this book for a book club that I am a part of. I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narration of the story was fun and I enjoyed listening to it, still, there were times where I found myself zoning out because of the overall voice the story carried. I do recommend the story as it is fun, but I don't know if I would read another Patrick O'Brian book myself. ( )

Another great adventure of Aubrey and Maturin. ( )

I'll admit that I still can't parse half the naval terminology in these novels, but they are so relentlessly charming that I can't help but enjoy them. Dropping Aubrey and Maturin at the start of the story in a sort of Jane Austen-ish scenario is a true delight, as is much of what follows. ( )

Unabridged audiobook read by Ric Jerrom:
Jerrom is a skilled reader and helps to bring the story to life.

Note that there are separate audiobooks read by Patrick Tull. I recommend Ric Jerrom over Patrick Tull as a reader.

Simon Vance is another reader option but I haven't heard his version.