The Far Side of the World
Published: 1984
Author: Patrick O'Brian
Book 10 of 21: Aubrey/Maturin Novels
Genres: Action, Adventure, British & Irish, Contemporary, Family Life, Fiction, Historical, Literary, Literature, Medical, Military, Navel, Saga, Sea, Suspense, Thriller, Travel, War
Check the summary of this book here:
The Far Side of the World Summary
The Review:
In The Far Side of the World, Patrick O'Brian follows up on the events of "Treason's Harbor," Jack Aubrey is assigned to the frigate HMS Surprise, which he initially assumed command of in the third novel “HMS Surprise” and returned to in the eighth installment, "The Ionian Mission," following a period of uncertainty. "Treason's Harbor" ended on a cliffhanger, but those threads, including Aubrey's fear that unjust if not irrational rumors that he was having an affair with a married Italian woman aboard H.M.S. Surprise would result in her husband challenging him are quickly resolved or otherwise disposed of before the current story begins.
It's still the War of 1812 in "The Far Side of the World," and the American frigate USS Norfolk is interfering with British whaling. Captain Aubrey's mission is to engage Norfolk and therefore safeguard the whalers. Stephen Maturin, his dear friend and ship's physician, is joining him on this voyage.
Aubrey also hires a new teacher, Mr. Allen, who is well-versed in the whaling profession; a clergyman, Mr. Martin, who is a naturalist and a similar soul to Maturin; and Mr. Hollum, a midshipman whose career has come to a halt and for whom Aubrey gets emotional, against his better judgment.
I seldom do this, but I feel compelled to include some information about the work in order to explain it to those who are still unfamiliar with it. But it is just summarized info of what to expect from this amazing novel... Aubrey pursues Norfolk all the way down the east coast of South America, past the treacherous waters near Cape Horn, to the Galapagos Islands, and all the way to the South Pacific.
The dreaded Doldrums, a prow-destroying lightning strike, a shipboard affair, strange disappearances, meetings with colorful whalers, and an almost disastrous but amusing rescue by South Sea islanders are among the problems Aubrey, Maturin, and crew endure. The closing chapters feel like they're building up to another cliffhanger, but most readers will find the ending to be quite satisfactory.
This is a novel in which historical accuracy and authenticity take precedence over the storyline. If you want to learn about whale hunting and slaughtering in the early nineteenth century, this is the book for you since Patrick O'Brian does his research thoroughly and explains it with a tale to ensure that it is indelibly ingrained in the reader's mind.
If you've watched the film Master and Commander, you'll know that it blended narrative threads from several of these novels, including The Far Side of the World. I strongly advise you to start with Master and Commander, the first book in the series. You'll recognize moments and characters from the books in the movie if you read all of the books in the series.
It's well-written and glows in Patrick O'Brian's technique of conveying a compelling story. However, I felt that the plot of Aubrey and Maturin didn't move forward much during the work. The clear tale narrative was rather great in and of itself, yet the reader is periodically left wanting for more, even though it is already a fantastic journey.
Final Thoughts:
What can I say that hasn't already been said about Patrick O'Brian's 'Aubrey–Maturin' novels? You're immersed in the historically authentic early 18th century British Navy, surrounded by a cast of people that are both human and heroes in their own right. I wish I could do justice to this magnificent collection of novels. For the record, Patrick O'Brian was working on a twenty-first unfinished novel when he died. It has also been made public. Because all of the novels are written in chronological sequence, you'll just have to acquire them all!
If the series seemed to be losing steam a few installments ago, this novel proves that it still has enough of it. There are many clichés repeated from previous novels that will thrill series aficionados, but there is also a lot of novelty in these new adventures that will satisfy both old and new readers.
That is why I would encourage any new readers to start with the first book, which is excellent, and work their way through - otherwise, you will be missing out on a lot of reading enjoyment and if you read almost any book from this series at random then, you will almost certainly become confused and dislike the book because all these books are written in a sequence or chronological order.
Synopsis:
“The inspiration for the major new motion picture starring Russell Crowe.
The war of 1812 continues, and Jack Aubrey sets course for Cape Horn on a mission after his own heart: intercepting a powerful American frigate outward bound to play havoc with the British whaling trade. Stephen Maturin has fish of his own to fry in the world of secret intelligence. Disaster in various guises awaits them in the Great South Sea and in the far reaches of the Pacific: typhoons, castaways, shipwrecks, murder, and criminal insanity.”
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Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 95/100 Yes.
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