The Thirteen-Gun Salute by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads Review)

The Thirteen-Gun Salute by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another splendid continuation of the Jack Aubrey and Steve Maturin adventure. It is 1813 or 1814. The War with France and the USA is still happening. Aubrey and Maturin are on a new ship and must meet with the HMS Surprise after the fulfilment of a diplomatic mission in the South China Sea on Java - a Dutch-influenced area of the world. A man named Fox is in charge of the negotiation. On the competing French side are two British traitors, one of whom, is the arch-cad and card cheat from Treason's Harbour story and others. Edward Ledward, once of the Treasury and Andrew Wray, (The arch-cad)

Some diabolical climax concerning the devious dealings of these traitors comes to an almighty and surprising climax. We are left on the edge of a new adventure and wanting more.

View all my reviews

The Letter of Marque by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads Review)

The Letter of Marque by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm profoundly in love with Diane Villiers. Steve Maturin's estranged wife. Both these characters turn over another leaf in this glorious tale of the continuing Aubrey/Maturin saga. Captain Jack Aubrey has been struck off the naval list because of enemy agents framing him for a stock exchange crime he did not commit. Many know he has been framed and the enemy agents guilty of the entrapment have fled the country. Aubrey is presented with HMS Surprise, which Steven Maturin has bought out of his inheritance. Therefore, Jack Aubrey is sailing the ship as a Letter of Marque - a privateer. He is still fighting for his country and trying to clear his name and win reinstatement back into the Royal Navy.

Once again I was enthralled by this twelfth story of the Royal Navy saga set in the time of Napoleon and the British/American War of 1812 to 1814. I can't wait to start on the next one. Splendid stuff.

View all my reviews

The Reverse of the Medal by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads Review)

The Reverse of the Medal by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started this yesterday and today I finished it. I could not put it down as a new development comes about. Another great yarn in the Aubrey/Maturin series. Once again Jack Aubrey proves he is a dab hand as a seaman. He chases an American commerce raider across the sea after leaving the West Indies. It is a nail-biting chase and the American ship is handled well by an experienced crew. Again, as much as Captain Aubrey is splendid at sea, he is a Buffon on land. It's as though his good sense deserts him when he steps off of the ship. In this story, he lasts a few hours before he gets himself into a diabolical mess. His naiveness of financial markets and stock exchange lands him in terrible trouble. His trusted friend Steve Maturin is splendid on land and a Buffoon at sea. These two friends complement each other. Maturin must do much to aid his friend in this part of the Aubrey/Maturin saga. I absolutely love these novels. They would make a dynamic TV show. The Movie was very good but the novels are something else. Splendid stuff. I can't wait to read the next one.

View all my reviews

The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads Review)

The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great story in the Aubrey/Maturin saga. This time HMS Surprise is chasing an American commerce raider called USS Norfolk. It is 1813 and Britain is at war with the fledgeling nation USA. The crew of the Suprise endure all sorts of onboard dilemmas as the go around the Cape Horn and into the Pacific where they know the Norfolk is after the lucrative British Whaling ships. 

The movie starring Russel Crow was loosely based on this plot for the beginning, though it was very different in many ways. Please do not get me wrong. The movie was splendid and I really enjoyed it immensely. But in reality, it is a very different story because the enemy is a Frenchman and the year is 1804 in the movie. Also, many of the characters are different and the ending is dramatically different. I think the movie took snippets from many books and put together a rather fabulous film.

Anyways, back to the actual novel of the name. It is also splendid and a dynamic read. Another piece in the saga's jigsaw of events surrounding Captain Jack Aubrey and Steven Maturin's marvellous adventures. 

View all my reviews

Treason's Harbour by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads)

Treason's Harbour by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Espionage on the island of Malta plus conflict at sea. The whole saga is captivating. Steven Maturin really shines in this. On land that is. Where he excels.

Jack Aubrey is the same at sea, but rather like a fish out of water on land. These stories seem to switch between Maturin being the star in port or land with Jack Aubrey being a total master and commander aboard ship.

The espionage angle of this story is very gripping. Maturin is aware of all the deceit and complications too. A skilful enemy agent and his recruits want to infiltrate the Admiralty on the island of Malta. They are blackmailing a Sicilian Lady who is married to a captured British seaman. As Maturin uncovers things we are presented with more puzzles for future stories.

Jack Aubrey is ordered to come to terms with a titled middle eastern man who they suspect is allying with the French and who is demanding vast sums of money for neutrality or alliance etc. This leads to a great duel of ships at sea.

Another enjoyable part of the Aubrey/Maturin saga. I've already got the following story to this. The Far Side of the World. Truly splendid seafaring yarns.

View all my reviews

The Ionian Mission by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads Review)

The Ionian Mission (Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 8) by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Splendid Historical Read.

This was book eight in the Aubrey/Maturin saga. It was most enjoyable throughout. A bloody and gripping sea action too. All set in 1812. Much of the first half of the story is on blockade duty aboard HMS Worcester, but then the HMS Surprise comes back into the story. This is much to the delight of Jack Aubrey and the reader. We then go on an adventure to the Greek Islands and Adriatic where Greek and Turkish pirates are the danger. Aubrey is on a diplomatic mission of sorts, but when the action comes, it is fast and furious.

Steven Maturin is married to Diane Villiers and is establishing his grounds with his wife before we set off for the Mediterranean Sea. This saga is wonderful andI've been reading it in the proper order. There always seems to be something else for the reader to get into. If you enjoy seafaring sagas, then I could not recommend anything more highly than the Aubrey/Maturin series. They are truly tales to behold.

View all my reviews

The Surgeon's Mate by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads Review)

The Surgeon's Mate by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Surgeon’s Mate is the 7th Aubrey/Maturin Royal Navy story set during the time of the Napoleonic Wars. It is 1812 and there is a new war with the USA. Aubrey and Maturin have escaped on board the HMS Shannon and been present during the battle with USS Chesapeake. From Canada, Aubrey and Maturin make their way back to Britain where more dilemmas await each man’s careful consideration. As a Captain at sea, Jack Aubrey is tremendous. On land, he seems to become a bit of a buffoon. Quite by accident. These land capers get him into all sorts of trouble and often his devoted wife Sophie and his good friend Maturin are the ones who seem to get him out of such vexations. Usually, a ship’s command turns up on time and he can get away from it all with a high sea adventure.

This story moves along the same lines as Aubrey and Maturin go on a mission in the Baltic. In this sea is a fortified island manned by Catalans. Maturin is half Catalan and half Irish. To persuade the garrison to surrender and ally with Britain against Napoleon is the aim of the British government. Maturin is selected to do this and he wishes Aubrey to command the sloop, HMS Ariel, upon the mission. Once again, Maturin is up to his neck at sea where Aubrey can always pull something out of the bag for him. Also, the elegant and tantalising Diane Villiers is still in the story. She becomes more dashing with her gloriously refined roguish elegance and sincere support for her country. The whole saga takes another fabulous step forward. A peach of a read. I can’t wait for the next story in this wonderful chronicle of seafarers.

View all my reviews

Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads Review)

Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, a superb historical read. These Patrick O'Brian novels set on the high seas of the Napoleonic times are a marvel. The language and whole presentation of the stories are very special. I felt as though I was there among the fabulous characters. This tale is wonderfully interwoven with Maturin devising a cunning plan of espionage. Aubery must pit his wits against a pursuing Dutch Man-of-War battleship. His ship is old and undermanned and those who are aboard are riddled with disease. He also has a compliment of prisoners being transported to Botany Bay.

The ever pursuing and skilful Dutch ship is always chasing. It has the vastly superior firepower to the fleeing HMS Leopard. Captain Jack Aubrey must try and stay one step ahead of the awesome enemy ship. I can't praise these books high enough. I've just bought the next title to follow this adventure. If you enjoy seafaring tales then I would highly recommend these Aubrey/Maturin sagas. They are so compelling.

View all my reviews

H.M.S. Surprise by Patrick O'Brian (My Goodreads Review)

H.M.S. Surprise by Patrick O'Brian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a gripping yarn. We are taken on a journey to the Indian Ocean with confrontations on land and sea. I am truly a fan of these Aubrey/Maturin naval stories. This one is no exception. The battle scenes at sea are presented to a degree where I thought I was there. The small points are taken into consideration by the Captain as the galleons square up to each other. Trying to get abeam of the ship as it leans over from the wind. This prevents it using its bottom line of guns. Thus a smaller ship fights a bigger vessel using the elements to advantage etc. There are so many things like this during the story. Splendid stuff all the way. The characters and the dialogue are marvellous as usual. I can't recommend these naval stories high enough. Well worth reading.

View all my reviews