Rating: 
Summary: Good but not as great as the others
Review: "The Yellow Admiral" is one of the less interesting of the Aubrey/Maturin series, although it has its merits. This novel takes place mainly on shore, and as usual, Jack Aubrey's life is more complicated and beset with more problems here than when he is at sea. The biggest problem in Aubrey's life is the probability of being "yellowed". The rank of an admiral in the Royal Navy is denoted by color. For example, an Admiral of the Blue has higher rank and responsibility than an Admiral of the White. In some cases, however, an officer is promoted to the rank of admiral for ceremonial purposes only, but is effectively decommissioned. When this happens, he is referred to as an Admiral of the Yellow, or one who is "yellowed". With Napoleon facing imminent defeat and peace on the horizon, Aubrey faces the strong prospect of himself being yellowed. To make matters worse, Aubrey opposes the enclosure movement in his district even after his commanding officer, Lord Stranraer, urges him to support it. And just when things could not get worse, Aubrey's wife discovers his old correspondence with a former mistress and throws him out of the house. Things are not going well for Stephen Maturin either, since he is isolated from his fortune and temporarily destitute. But in a rare turn of events, he appears to enjoy a tranquil domestic life with his tempestuous, capricious wife, Diana. In fact, it is a rare twist in this series to see Aubrey financially secure but romantically distraught while Maturin, for a change is emotionally contented, but utterly impoverished. If you are a fan of this series or a lover of history then you will enjoy this book. It has an enormous amount to teach us about life in England and in the British navy during the Napoleonic wars. However, if you read O'brian purely for his thrilling accounts of Napoleonic naval battles then this one probably won't do it for you. O'brian briefly takes us out on Patrol of the blockaded French coast and provides a wonderful description of the perilous navigation in the fog. However, even the brief naval engagements in this book are a little too mellow and hardly as thrilling as the others. Still worthwhile though.
Rating: 
Summary: Political intrigue at home and on duty beset Aubrey
Review: "The Yellow Admiral", the 18th novel in Patrick O'Brian's critically acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin saga, is one of those which are most closely akin to Jane Austen's riveting, elegant descriptions of British aristocratic society around the time of the Napoleonic wars. Here Aubrey must contend with a long-forgotten extramarital scandal which threatens his marriage to Sophie and a senior admiral who is displeased by Aubrey's opposition to enclosing lands with fences by the admiral's nephew, a wealthier landowner and neighbor of Aubrey's. Aubrey serves under the latter's command as his beloved Bellona joins the blockade fleet off the Normandy coast. Worst of all, with peace on the horizon as Napoleon suffers one crushing defeat after another on land, Aubrey fears that he will be "yellowed", promoted to admiral without command of a squadron or fleet. Meanwhile Maturin returns from a secret mission on the continent, bearing news which may restore his old friend's military fortunes. And, at the very end, not only is Aubrey reconciled to Sophie, but he receives news of Napoleon's escape from the Italian island of Elba, and reinstatement of his temporary rank of commodore, in command of a small frigate squadron near Gibraltar.
Rating:
Summary: Political intrigue at home and on duty beset Aubrey
Review: "The Yellow Admiral", the 18th novel in Patrick O'Brian's critically acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin saga, is one of those which are most closely akin to Jane Austen's riveting, elegant descriptions of British aristocratic society around the time of the Napoleonic wars. Here Aubrey must contend with a long-forgotten extramarital scandal which threatens his marriage to Sophie and a senior admiral who is displeased by Aubrey's opposition to enclosing lands with fences by the admiral's nephew, a wealthier landowner and neighbor of Aubrey's. Aubrey serves under the latter's command as his beloved Bellona joins the blockade fleet off the Normandy coast. Worst of all, with peace on the horizon as Napoleon suffers one crushing defeat after another on land, Aubrey fears that he will be "yellowed", promoted to admiral without command of a squadron or fleet. Meanwhile Maturin returns from a secret mission on the continent, bearing news which may restore his old friend's military fortunes. And, at the very end, not only is Aubrey reconciled to Sophie, but he receives news of Napoleon's escape from the Italian island of Elba, and reinstatement of his temporary rank of commodore, in command of a small frigate squadron near Gibraltar.
Rating:
Summary: The story continues
Review: A reviewer of O'Brian's next book in the series wrote that the Aubrey books are really one 6000 page novel. I agree. This volume advances the story. It also deals more extensively with
domestic issues than previous books have. If you are reading
the Aubrey books, keep going. If not, don't start here, start at
the beginning.
Rating:
Summary: The story continues
Review: A reviewer of O'Brian's next book in the series wrote that the Aubrey books are really one 6000 page novel. I agree. This volume advances the story. It also deals more extensively with
domestic issues than previous books have. If you are reading
the Aubrey books, keep going. If not, don't start here, start at
the beginning.
Rating: 
Summary: If you got this far in the series, why stop now?
Review: Aubrey & Maturin will always be worth reading, but
this series is definitely getting tired. After
the first three or four books, O'Brian started struggling
and this novel continues the long, long downhill path.
For alternatives, try the grandaddy of them all, the Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, or the Bolitho stories
from Alexander Kent. Harder to find, try the Drinkwater
series from Richard Woodman (e.g., "An Eye of the Fleet")
or the Ramage series from Dudley Pope. On land, Bernard
Cornwell's Sharpe is pretty good too.
Rating:
Summary: The freshness goes; among the least inspired of the series
Review: For those of us who have avidly followed the exploits and conversations of O'Brian's remarkable characters, "The Yellow Admiral"
is a disappointment. Just as the Napoleonic wars have gone flat in this episode, so, too, has the world Aubrey and Maturin. For the first
time I had the feeling that the author was uncertain where to take the tale. Perhaps the characters have now grown too much within themselves
and thus find very little that is fresh in their world. In any event, in this story the sheer joy of life and discovery, and the thrill of competence that is theirs at sea, is gone, gone, gone. Sour elder middle-age seems to have taken their place.
For those who have followed this series, of course, "The Yellow Admiral" is a must read. But were it not for the long association with these characters, I would have found the book tedious, undirected, and boring.
Rating: 
Summary: Painfully disappointing
Review: I am an absolute devotee of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. I have read all of them at least three times each. But "The Yellow Admiral" appalled me. I was certain within fifty pages that it had been written by someone else who had picked up all of O'brian's turns of phrase, but none of his wit or heart. I wrote an indignant letter to the publisher demanding my money back, but then never sent it. It's embarrassing to admit how passionately I feel about this - I mean, it's only a book, right? But this book was so poorly done it would have been funny had I not been so eagerly awaiting it. Diana's pronouncements on sex! and Sophie's transformation to a shrew! Sir Joseph's tortured explanations re: Stephen's character to a clerk! I would have been far happier had it never been published - it was like watching close friends disintegrate before my eyes.
Rating:
Summary: Painfully disappointing
Review: I am an absolute devotee of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. I have read all of them at least three times each. But "The Yellow Admiral" appalled me. I was certain within fifty pages that it had been written by someone else who had picked up all of O'brian's turns of phrase, but none of his wit or heart. I wrote an indignant letter to the publisher demanding my money back, but then never sent it. It's embarrassing to admit how passionately I feel about this - I mean, it's only a book, right? But this book was so poorly done it would have been funny had I not been so eagerly awaiting it. Diana's pronouncements on sex! and Sophie's transformation to a shrew! Sir Joseph's tortured explanations re: Stephen's character to a clerk! I would have been far happier had it never been published - it was like watching close friends disintegrate before my eyes.
Rating:
Summary: Is this the end?
Review: I have enjoyed this series immensely, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in historical novels with excellent character development. O'Brien is a super writer. Unfortunately, like Dr. Mautrin, I have developed my own addiction -- these novels. Therefore, I would like to know: Is this the end? P/ e-mail if you have any insights or information. Thank you. GRAFMAX
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