[SC1]⋙ PDF HMS Surprise Aubrey/Maturin Novels Patrick O'Brian 9780393037036 Books

HMS Surprise Aubrey/Maturin Novels Patrick O'Brian 9780393037036 Books

Download As PDF : HMS Surprise Aubrey/Maturin Novels Patrick O'Brian 9780393037036 Books

HMS Surprise Aubrey/Maturin Novels Patrick O'Brian 9780393037036 Books

The best nautical historical fiction for the late eighteenth, early nineteenth century British navy there is, hands down. O'Brian researched exhaustively to produce this series, and the accuracy is spot on. More to the point, they're infinitely readable, with laudable chracter development and environmental description that puts you firmly in the midst of what you're reading. There is such a wealth of description, you'll want a dictionary, thesaurus, and an atlas at hand when you dive in. Trust me when I tell you, buy them all, because you won't be able to put them down, and when you're done with one, you'll simply have to have the next right at hand.


Tags : H.M.S. Surprise (Aubrey/Maturin Novels) [Patrick O'Brian] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <strong> Few, very few books have made my heart thud with excitement. <em>H.M.S. Surprise</em> managed it. ―Helen Lucy Burke,Patrick O'Brian,H.M.S. Surprise (AubreyMaturin Novels),W. W. Norton & Company,0393037037,Historical,Aubrey, Jack (Fictitious character),Great Britain - History, Naval - 19th century,Great Britain;History, Naval;19th century;Fiction.,Great Britain;Naval history;Fiction.,Historical fiction,Maturin, Stephen (Fictitious character),Sea stories,19th century,FICTION Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Historical,Great Britain,Historical - General,History, Naval,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),Modern fiction,Naval history

HMS Surprise Aubrey/Maturin Novels Patrick O'Brian 9780393037036 Books Reviews

Anyone who reads O'Brian's books knows that they are all outstanding. Each is essentially a time machine that carries its readers back to the Napoleonic wars, onto the decks of British fighting ships and amongst the men who sailed them. I rate all 21 books 5 stars; I'm undecided on the last, unfinished book.
Read all of them - you'll learn more history than most college courses teach.
This is book four of the Aubrey/Matterin series, a fictional account of the British Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. But though it is fictional, the fiction is meticulously based on British naval records. Indeed, the series is as much history as it is fiction. At the very least, it is the history of battles told precisely with fictional characters in command. The series is a stunning act of scholarship. This is book four of the series, which numbers, if I recall correctly, over twenty volumes.

It's history + escapism and most sailors will love it. I am reading the series for the second time because it is fascinating most of all, but also because it reminds me of my Navy days.
Once I got past instilling the pronunciation of Mauritius, in my head, I enjoyed this fourth installment of the series very much. This book differs somewhat from his past experiences in that Aubrey has command of a small squadron, which he must weld into a fighting unit, despite their many differences in style and some difficult personal relationships, which compound his difficulties.

As always O'Brian writes from history, as much as possible, and this book is based on a little known action against the French in the India Ocean bringing both action and suspense to the story. As always a welcome addition in our ongoing love of all things navel as illustrated by Commodore Aubrey and Dr. Maturin.
I must admit, after reading the first 4 books, I am in love with this author and his characters. I cannot read them one after the other, but I intersperse them with other more modern tales of intrigue, spy vs spy, or other action thrillers. I was first introduced to book 2 Post Captain as it was required reading for my son's AP English & Comp class. Having seen the Master and Commander movie years ago helped me put a face on the main characters, especially Aubrey. After reading No 2 I went back and began them in order. Aubrey is little more than a sailer and a leader of men, preferably in war, while Dr. Maturin is a complete study, almost the conscience of the fleet. His motives for helping the English are not quite plausible, Catalan independence and all, but he seems to hate Napolean B and what he has done to the French Revolution, more than he dislikes the British, so operates as an intelligence agent for Whitehall, while at the same time making sure the reader understands his complete hatred for slavery and capital punishment, but cannot seem to get that across to the thick head of Lucky Jack Aubrey. Even with Maturin's feelings toward slavery, he nevertheless tried to purchase a young girl of 10 or so, who was his guide around Bombay, in order to protect her from a certain future of prostitution. These things were beyond his control though, and he eventually ended up paying for her funeral. You might think these books are simply naval war stories, but they are much more and draw the reader into surprising situations around virtually every corner.
Every Patrick O'Brien novel - especially all of the Aubrey Maturin series - should be required reading for anyone who loves a great story with compelling characters, adventure, suspense and just the slightest touch of romance. Add to that that they are steeped in actual history - based on the logbooks of the RN captains who sailed in the era about which he writes - these are history lessons in the most entertaining form imaginable. Highest recommendation i could possibly give.
Now I have a copy of "A Sea of Words" a most useful dictionary of Patrick O'Brian sea stories, I can orient myself pretty well. I think Maturin must've been O'Brian's favorite character, because he gets more development in this novel than Aubrey. Devices such as journals and letters are used to great effect to reveal the characters' inner thoughts. It is a letter that delivers the best description of Maturin so far, and a letter that delivers a crushing blow at the end.
The best nautical historical fiction for the late eighteenth, early nineteenth century British navy there is, hands down. O'Brian researched exhaustively to produce this series, and the accuracy is spot on. More to the point, they're infinitely readable, with laudable chracter development and environmental description that puts you firmly in the midst of what you're reading. There is such a wealth of description, you'll want a dictionary, thesaurus, and an atlas at hand when you dive in. Trust me when I tell you, buy them all, because you won't be able to put them down, and when you're done with one, you'll simply have to have the next right at hand.