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Title: The Commodore by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 1-56511-582-1 Publisher: Highbridge Audio Pub. Date: 01 November, 2001 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 2 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.46 (13 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Commodore Aubrey takes on the slave trade
Comment: After returning from years at sea, in the East Indies, Botany Bay, the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands, the Peruvian coast and Cape Horn--during which Aubrey freed an old servant of Dr. Maturin from imprisonment and unwittingly took on a stowaway from Botany Bay, frustrated an attempt by a prototypical communist to set up an "ideal" government which would have been inimical to British interests in the Sandwich Islands, and a failed attempt by Dr. Maturin (a British intelligence agent) to free Peru from the Spanish influence--as well as encountering terminal storms, volcanic eruptions, encounters with icebergs, pirates and other enemy ships, in the last book (The Wine Dark Sea); our heroes, Dr, Stephen Maturin and Captain Jack Aubrey finally arrive back in England in this, the 17th book of the 20 book Aubrey/Maturin series.
However, all is not well. Aubrey's wife, Sophie, suspects him of having an affair with the stowaway, Mrs. Oakes, although he is innocent. He, in turn, suspects her of having an affair with the local parson, who pursued her before their marriage. Stephen finds his wife, Diana, gone to parts unknown, and his girl child whom he has never seen, is suspected of being an idiot.
Jack is given a new command, promoted to Commodore, and embarks on an effort to stop the slave trade out of Africa, as well as to frustrate a French squadron from interfering in Ireland.
No one knows square-rigged ships as well as the late Patrick O'Brian, the author. His 19th century sea battles are often taken directly from British Admiralty records, but more than that his dialogues are replete with period expressions and turns of phrase that add greatly to his stories. What magnificent stories!
The newcomer to the series should start with the first book, Master and Commander, and take them in order. I envy you the hours of pleasure that await you.
Joseph H. Pierre
Author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity
Rating: 5
Summary: Aubrey and Maturin in Late Middle Age: Still Great!
Comment:
"Come grow old with me / The best is yet to be..."
Browning's lines from "Rabbi Ben Ezra" apply nicely to O'Brian's great Aubrey/Maturin series (although I understand that the last couple of volumes in the series are not quite up to the standard). Partly because so few writers can create vital and interesting characters any more, O'Brian stands out with his correct Tory Naval captain (Jack Aubrey) and his British intelligence agent/scientist friend (Stephen Maturin), who show here that they can age gracefully.
But don't begin here. You have to have read the series in order to understand their tangled love and financial relationships and how the situation in THE COMMODORE came to be. If you have read the others through THE WINE DARK SEA, you are in for a real treat.
Aubrey and Maturin combat pro-Napoleonic forces at home and abroad. In the process, they deliver crippling blows to the West African slave trade and prevent a French landing in support of Irish independence.
Now that he has risen in the ranks, Aubrey must deal with issues raised by an incompetent spit-and-polish commander like Captain Thomas and by an otherwise talented sodomite in the person of Captain Duff whose officers rebel against favoritism shown to his catamites. Throughout the book, our heroes are uncertain of the welcome they will receive from their wives and families -- yet they are driven onward for King and Country.
Rating: 4
Summary: A most excellent adventure!
Comment: After reading this delightful volume , I wonder why I ever stopped the series in the first place. The recent film release caused me to return to the series after a brief hiatus , and I am now enjoying it more than ever!
A brief synopsis of the tale--Captain Aubrey is given a task of suppression of the West African slave trade , with a hidden secondary mission: prevention of Napoleon's invasion of Ireland. To this end , Jack is given a small squadron of warships and is rated as the Commodore in command of the mission , with the clever and covert assistance of Doctor Maturin. Maturin's lovely wife Diana appears to have run away leaving a deeply troubled child in the care of others . In Freetown , the Doctor makes the acquaintance of the wife of the local governer , a beautiful young naturalist , and sets the stage for a future relationship in "Blue at the Mizzen".
Along the way ,in the course of the tale , we gain a further glimpse of 19th century life of an English gentleman at Captain Aubrey's home. I particularly delighted in the description of the astronomical observatory and Caroline Herschel's help. As an amateur astronomer myself , I couldn't help but smile at this inclusion.
Stephen Maturin's interaction with his young daughter is lovely and heartwarming , bringing yet another dimension to this already complex character. Padeen , the Doctor's manservant , manages to establish a relationship with the young girl and bring her out from apparent autism.
Commodore Aubrey fairly well crushes the slave trade and manages to make his rendevous with the French fleet on the coast of Ireland , as usual winning a striking victory.
All said , this is one of the best volumes in an excellent series. I enjoyed it tremendously and recommend it highly. Unfortunately the abbreviated battle scene only took a couple of pages ; otherwise it would have been 5 stars.
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Title: The Ionian Mission (Aubrey-Maturin (Paperback)) by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 0393308219 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 01 November, 1991 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: The Surgeon's Mate by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 0393308200 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 01 January, 1992 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: The Fortune of War by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 0393308138 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 01 August, 1991 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: The Far Side of the World (Aubrey-Maturin (Paperback)) by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 0393308626 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 01 April, 1992 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Desolation Island (Aubrey-Maturin (Paperback)) by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 039330812X Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 01 August, 1991 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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