Master and Commander (Aubrey-Maturin (Audio))

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Summary: The Start Of A Classic Literary Friendship
Review: "Master and Commander", the first of Patrick O'Brian's twenty volumes devoted to the exploits of Captain Jack Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin, is a delightful literary pleasure. Yet those unfamiliar to Napoleonic naval fiction should find themselves copies of the Oxford English Dictionary and histories devoted to the Royal Navy and the Napoleonic wars. However, it is still a delight to read, with replete with exceptionally well drawn characters, fascinating details on subjects as diverse as natural history, music, and of course, the Royal Navy, and many scenes devoted to war. O'Brian's fiction rises well above those of his peers in naval fiction, because of his devotion to details and the graceful, lyrical - and some might say outmoded - literary style he uses. Indeed, on more than one occasion, O'Brian admitted to interviewers that he was a 19th Century man trapped in the 20th Century.

"Master and Commander" is a splendid introduction to Aubrey and Maturin. It chronicles Commander Aubrey's exploits as the master and commander of His Britannic Majesty's sloop Sophie along the coasts of France, and especially, Spain. Like the other novels in the Aubrey/Maturin saga, it is a stand alone tale, yet I can assure you that after you read this tome, you'll be eager to read the rest. Unquestionably, this entire series is one of the great classics of late 20th Century literature.

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Summary: Potential Traffic Hazard
Review: 'Snopes' in California (comment - 30 Nov '98) puts it well: revel in 'Master and Commander' such that you get well and truly hooked; don't draw comparisons with Austen (it's not fair to Mr O'Brian); definitely read the 2nd in the series, 'Post Captain' but do not take it as setting the tone for the rest of the series. Far from it. It was my best friend who suggested I read a book from the series and I was luke warm about it at the time. Nosing around a shop in ST. Katherine's Dock (of all places) in London on a boring Sunday afternoon, I spotted an abridged version of 'Master and Commander' on audio tape. Taking this as an omen I thought it wouldn't hurt, especially as I used to spend so much time in my car driving to and from work. After playing one tape, I almost came to grief whilst frantically searching for the next in the passenger footwell. In terms of pace, mood and immediate subject matter, the difference between the first and second books in this series is something akin to Chalk and Cheese. After finishing Master and Commander, you're left outside the nearest bookshop fairly willing the clock to strike opening time for the second helping; you won't be prepared for Post Captain. You will read through diligently in the vain hope that some 'orders' will arrive for the intrepid duo, but alas... The truth is that readers are not prepared for the change in pace, but my personal feeling is that 'Post Captain' is probably the most accomplished book in the series and the best example of just how much Patrick O'Brian is a master of his chosen subject and period. True evidence, I feel, of a wonderful, three-dimensional author (billyjnyc, please take note - try Post Captain if you want more depth and roundness to the characters - trust me). Post Captain is oftened maligned because of the structured expectations we form before delving into it after Master and Commander, but it is a beautiful piece of work, a fascinating window on the localised society of the time and a solid and important foundation for the rest of the series. As for the rest of the series? Giving up smoking could never have been as traumatic as closing the cover on the last book: hands together, praying for another.

sc.

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Summary: Lucky Jack finds a friend and gets a sloop
Review: I was compelled to read MASTER AND COMMANDER after seeing the excellent 2003 film of the same title starring Russell Crowe. The movie is loosely based - I stress loosely - on the book.

Author Patrick O'Brian quickly gets down to business. Within the first twenty-five pages, Lieutenant Jack Aubrey, RN, is assigned captaincy of the His Majesty's sloop "Sophie", and he discovers a new friend in Dr. Stephen Maturin, a physician sans patients marooned in Minorca, whom Jack persuades to come aboard his vessel as its new medical officer. (At this point, it must be stressed that Stephen is a "physician", not a "surgeon", the latter profession held in low esteem as being not much better than that of a meat-cutter.) It's 1800, and England is embroiled in one of its interminable wars with France and Spain.

In the book as in the film, there are three themes. Ranked in importance, there is first the friendship between Aubrey and Maturin. Then, the depiction of Aubrey as a man and commander. And finally, the naval strategy, battles, and life aboard a wooden fighting ship.

Jack's an interesting character; in the book MASTER AND COMMANDER, he's still a diamond in the rough. He's brave, fair to his men, professionally ambitious, a competent sailor, lucky, and desirous of wealth. (Remember, in these times, the poorly paid crew and officers of a military man o' war could derive much, if not most, of their remuneration from the capture of "prize ships", i.e. vessels flying an enemy's flag subsequently sold, with their cargoes, for profit by the Admiralty.) Most of all, Aubrey wants to advance up the pay-grade ladder into the admiral ranks. However, he tends to be insubordinate and, in MASTER AND COMMANDER at least, he's having an affair with his immediate superior's wife - the latter a potentially career-scuttling move.

For me, this volume isn't of the can't-put-down type. The naval combat action is first rate, during which time the story moves along at the clip of a fast frigate. Between battles, however, the pace may fall off to that of a slow barge, especially when Jack and Stephen are ashore. And, at all times, the nautical terms can make for rough sailing for landlubbers, as in the following when Maturin is given an explanation of "lee shore":

"... and (Mowett) explained the nature of leeway, the loss of windward distance in wearing, the impossibility of tacking in a very great wind, the inevitability of leeward drift in the case of being embayed, with a full gale blowing dead on short, and the impervious horror of this situation." Huh?

I shall acquire and read the next book in the series, POST CAPTAIN, but reserve the right to drop anchor and abandon ship anywhere in the 20-book series should the voyage become becalmed in the doldrums.

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Summary: The start of something wonderful...
Review: It's hard to believe I only discovered the Aubrey/Maturin novels last fall. Since first reading "Master and Commander", Jack Aubrey & Stephen Maturin, their shipmates & their families, have come to seem like members of our family to both myself & my husband!

If "Master and Commander" is your introduction to the novels of Patrick O'Brian (as it should be), it may take awhile to become accustomed to the formality of the language. Think Jane Austen at sea, & you'll have some idea of their flavor. Pretty soon tho, the action will grab you & the pages will turn faster than you thought possible! Just make sure to savor the humor that infuses so many of the interactions & observations; you'll be laughing out loud without even realising it!

Just be warned: if you buy this book it will probably only be the beginning for you. There are 20 Aubrey/Maturin novels in all, plus numerous books (the best by Dean King) that will provide maps, nautical & historical definitions, recipes etc. to help you more fully appreciate every aspect of Patrick O'Brian's creation. You'll want them all. You will want to check out some of the excellent web sites that elaborate upon these novels. You'll even find yourself reading biographies & histories of the period! In short, when you buy "Master & Commander" you are starting a whole new hobby! Enjoy!

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Summary: Historical masterpiece, but not for me.
Review: Set in the year 1800 this story tells the tale of the adventures of newly promoted British naval captain Jack Aubrey and his vessel "Sophie".

This book was really hard to read and enjoy. The historical background is not explained in the book so it assumes the reader has a prior knowledge of the politics and state of European history at that time. The English is difficult to understand with lots of most uncommon words, and other words which may then have been current but are certainly no longer. The nautical terms are just as technical with a specialist knowledge needed to comprehend their meaning. The one concession to the reader is a drawing amongst the author's notes showing the 21 sails of a square rigged ship with each one's name. If I had written this book I would have included more reader's aids including a map, maybe a list of key dates of historical events of that period and a list of definitions of some of those rare words. Certainly my regular contemporary dictionary was not of much help in that regard. The map would have helped as at one stage the Sophie is sailing from Minorca to Alexandria but seems to be on a west by north west heading, surely the wrong way.

There are plenty of battles between various ships throughout the book. There are French, Spanish and Italian warships but it only becomes apparent towards the final chapters who is fighting who. The battle scenes are well described with almost the equivalent of "hand to hand" fighting as the ships get close enough to shoot their canons and even muskets at each other. The great friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey and his ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin is a fine thread running the book which, along with the battles scenes, make the story just that little bit more readable.

I acknowledge that author Patrick O'Brian has rightly been acclaimed and awarded for his series of nearly 20 naval novels of the Napoleonic Wars. As one critic wrote "His depiction of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the landscape and of the sea is masterly. O'Brian's portrayal of each of these is faultless and the sense of period throughout is acute". This is clearly the case, but the novel is hard work and I felt a great deal of relief when I eventually reached the final page. I also find Shakespeare most difficult to read and therefore seek out other writers for my entertainment. O'Brian falls into the same category so that has to be a fair comment on his literary skills.

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Summary: A Wonderful Sea Story
Review: The first in Patrick O'Brian's twenty-volume "Aubrey-Maturin" series, "Master and Commander" is both a compelling narrative and a fine foundation for the books to follow. In the first decade of the nineteenth century, British naval officer Jack Aubrey is promoted to his first command of a warship, the sloop "Sophie". He befriends an eccentric physician, Stephen Maturin, and convinces him to sail as ship's surgeon. What follows is a sort of odyssey, a linear narrative as the Sophie cruises the Mediterranean, capturing cargo ships and fighting French and Spanish warships. O'Brian has a wonderful, mature prose, a spare style that omits repetitious detail while allowing characters and events to describe themselves and leaving the minutiae to the reader's imagination. His complete ease with nineteenth century maritime affairs, from the idiom to the equipment is wholly convincing, yet never patronizing. Readers familiar with neither the sea nor the era will be swept along for the ride. Aubrey is heroic, but three-dimensional. He is flawed and sometimes unlikable, courageous yet occasionally frustratingly inept. Other characters are drawn with equal attention to detail and humanity. This is a fine book, a wonderful sea story. Norton's newly-released edition of the entire series is attractive, and the books continue to please.

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Summary: Horatio Hornblower is a better character
Review: This book was excellent, though I find C.S.Forester's Horatio Hornblower series better with regard to character development of the main character - or perhaps Hornblower is just more likeable. Jack Aubrey comes across flat as an oafish brute (though a brilliant seaman), Hornblower is the thinking man's captain. Would be interested to see what other reviewers think of the two series' comparative merits. I'm sure the rest of the Aubrey series will be excellent, but I certainly don't think it outranks the Hornblower series as the 'best nautical adventure fiction' as many have claimed.