The Letter of Marque: Aubrey/Maturin series, book 12
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Amazon.co.uk Review
When Jack Aubrey is unfairly deprived of his commission in the Royal Navy, Stephen Maturin comes to the rescue, purchasing the captain's former ship and outfitting it as a privateer, to be commanded by none other than Jack Aubrey. Soon the Surprise is off to sea, on a mission that Aubrey hopes will redeem his good name. The author's grasp of period detail is astonishing as ever--and so is his gift for pure entertainment.
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‘No writer alive can move one as O’Brian can.’
Irish Times
‘Delicacy and generosity of feeling are constant themes in O’Brian’s novels. The Letter of Marque is both serious and light-hearted, true and sentimental, as comic opera can be.’
London Review of Books
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read the entire series of Richard Bolitho books by Alexander Kent, and having an interest in the period, I looked around for a substitute, and to my great joy stumbled upon Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series of novels. What priceless gems they are!
Having just completed the twelth book in the series "The Letter of Marque", I can say it gently dove-tails into the end of the previous novel (as all books in the series do), providing a continuous insight into the lives of the main characters. The story begins with a despondent Jack Aubrey having been dismissed from the Navy for a stock-market fraud he didn't comit. It unwinds into a series of mini adventures arranged by his close friend and secret agent; Stephen Maturin and his Naval Intelligent colleagues, designed to get Aubrey reinstated to the Naval List. All the usual twists and turns of an O'Brien novel follow.
What Fascinates me about this and the other eleven books I have already read in the series is their realism. Patrick O'Brian has the ability to transfer you back to the period. His descriptive powers, the richness of language used by the characters, and the general storyline prove compelling reading. A must read. My suggestion is to start at the very beginning by reading "Master and Commander", then work your way through the entire series as I am doing. That way you'll really appreciate the variations each new book brings.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the 12th book out of a 20 (or 21) book series, and it is one of my favourites in the series - a series which I believe to be incomparable. O'Brian manages to turn a tale of derring-do on the high seas and some politicking and love-troubles on land, into a story that touches the soul.
It starts deep in the doldrums. Captain Aubrey has been dismissed the service: thrown out of the Royal Navy, his life. But his particular friend, the surgeon Dr Stephen Maturin, has bought the frigate *Surprise*, and they - and a prime crew of old Surprise hands and shady Shelmerstonian privateers and smugglers - are off on a private mission, as a Letter of Marque. Essentially, as a privateer. For aficionadoes this is all they could wish for: we meet all our old friends, Pullings, Killick, Bonden, Plaice, even Babbington and Mowett make an appearance: and, of course, the lovely *Surprise* itself, no longer H.M.S. but still her old self, and a real personality. There is heartache; there is extreme tension; there are ruses; and there is the interplay between old friends Jack and Stephen, between them and their music, and between the ship and the elements. This is old ground, lovingly rediscovered and described with the Master's hand. There is no-one to touch O'Brian, and he is in full flow here - little touches of humour, painful personal moments, and descriptions of life at sea to touch your soul. Even if, like me, you are a landsman. On land we meet again Sir Joseph Blaine, Mrs Broad of the Grapes, and even the butcher's dog. There are enchanting scenes at Ashgrove Cottage, and some good life at Shelmerston, that freelancing Devon port.
And there is long-drawn-out tension, something O'Brian is particularly good at - on and on it goes, and it keeps your nerves as taut as the rigging in a full-blown gale. Tension during two very important cutting-out expeditions: one for the Diane in France, one for Diana in Sweden. This is O'Brian at the peak of his form, and this is a wonderful book.
It starts deep in the doldrums. Captain Aubrey has been dismissed the service: thrown out of the Royal Navy, his life. But his particular friend, the surgeon Dr Stephen Maturin, has bought the frigate *Surprise*, and they - and a prime crew of old Surprise hands and shady Shelmerstonian privateers and smugglers - are off on a private mission, as a Letter of Marque. Essentially, as a privateer. For aficionadoes this is all they could wish for: we meet all our old friends, Pullings, Killick, Bonden, Plaice, even Babbington and Mowett make an appearance: and, of course, the lovely *Surprise* itself, no longer H.M.S. but still her old self, and a real personality. There is heartache; there is extreme tension; there are ruses; and there is the interplay between old friends Jack and Stephen, between them and their music, and between the ship and the elements. This is old ground, lovingly rediscovered and described with the Master's hand. There is no-one to touch O'Brian, and he is in full flow here - little touches of humour, painful personal moments, and descriptions of life at sea to touch your soul. Even if, like me, you are a landsman. On land we meet again Sir Joseph Blaine, Mrs Broad of the Grapes, and even the butcher's dog. There are enchanting scenes at Ashgrove Cottage, and some good life at Shelmerston, that freelancing Devon port.
And there is long-drawn-out tension, something O'Brian is particularly good at - on and on it goes, and it keeps your nerves as taut as the rigging in a full-blown gale. Tension during two very important cutting-out expeditions: one for the Diane in France, one for Diana in Sweden. This is O'Brian at the peak of his form, and this is a wonderful book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have never read this many books in a series where I cannot wait for the next one to arrive in the mail. The only problem is... There's not enough of them!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
In the doldrums
I'm puzzled. People love Patrick O'Brian and his fictional hero Jack Aubrey, don't they? Look at the reviews of his books across this site: five stars all over the place. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Simon Bendle
Overrated
This novelist although extremely accurate in his descriptions and highly believable in the way he sets the scenes he seems scared to involve himself with the excitement of sea... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Banda
Luck turns at last
Captain Jack Aubrey's prospects improve slowly but surely, made possible by ship surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin's purchase of 'Surprise' and its subsequent voyages. Read more
Published 6 months ago by JoTownhead
Exciting
Have been working my way through these books and enjoy O'Brian's stories and writing. This book reminded me why I enjoy the series as it recaptures the excitement and action of... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Snow
The Letter Of Marque
Excellent historical novel continuing the series of Aubrey & Maturin.
Supplied by Afrohead on time and in good condition.
Supplied by Afrohead on time and in good condition.
Published on 24 Sep 2009 by Frank A. Haysom
Sea tales without peer
The Letter of Marque (the entire series for that matter) goes so far beyond the swashbuckling cliche as to make the comparison irrelevant. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 1997
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