The Mauritius Command
Published: 1977
Author: Patrick O'Brian
Book 4 of 21: Aubrey/Maturin Novels
Genres: Action, Adventure, British & Irish, Family Life, Fiction, Historical, Literary, Literature, Medical, Military, Navel, Saga, Sea, Suspense, Thriller, Travel, War
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review:
Patrick O'Brian is like a magnificent guide into another time and place in The Mauritius Command, and his writing abilities are fascinating to experience. His ability to depict a former age both perplexes and befuddles the reader because the reader has no way of knowing whether the sophisticated terminologies he deploys in his conversations and descriptions are the result of painstaking study or are masterfully made up out of thin air.
I know enough about battle sailing during the Napoleonic era to know that the maritime descriptions are spot-on, leading me to imagine that the dialogues are as accurate, but this is not the case, and this portion is simply coming from the author's brilliant story-telling intellect and it confuses the reader as I mentioned in the previous paragraph.
As is customary for Patrick O’Brian, he draws heavily on history, and this novel is based on a little-known operation against the French in the Indian Ocean, which provides both action and tension to the storyline. As always, Commodore Aubrey and Dr. Maturin's illustrations of all things navel are a wonderful contribution to the readers’ continuous love for this book series and the sea.
This is one of the most action-packed books in the series. One of the many reasons I read this book series is because I adore the idea of living aboard a sailboat, and having at least one 65-foot catamaran, ideally a trimaran, is one of my life goals. Most individuals started reading these books after seeing the film "Master & Commander."
But after reading the first 200 pages of Master & Commander, many of them realized that the action wasn't quite as close as it would be in the subsequent novels. Captain Aubrey and a fleet face French naval off the coast of Mauritius in this one, which is action-packed. It's thrilling and really creative!
But for Patrick O’Brian, it's all about the language. You'll be referring to literature (or websites) to better grasp the various antique terms and phrases his characters use, whether nautical, medicinal, and zoological or gourmet. Context allows for a basic understanding, but a better comprehension necessitates a deeper study.
The same caution applies to the reader's understanding of sail-powered naval fighting – Patrick O’Brian provides a basic introduction, but further understanding and enjoyment may be gained with a little exploration. After all, the Internet is always there at your disposal!
His writings will not only delight you, but they will also make you think and work a bit. These aren't the books for you if you find this an irritation or an inconvenience – Only inquisitive minds will like and want more of these fantastic novels.
Although the series is set on the sea, you don't need to be a sailor or have a lot of nautical expertise to appreciate it. As I previously stated, this is the fourth book in the Aubrey-Maturin series, but it can be enjoyed on its own or as part of the series. However, I strongly advise reading all of the previous books in the series before reading this one so you can get a sense of what is going on in the lives of all of the characters involved, as well as all of the back stories that may be useful in future reads, including this one.
I'm assuming that the readers have read at least the previous three novels, which is why I'm using certain keywords that may be considered spoilers, so just in case, skip this paragraph... okay, moving on, so Captain Jack Aubrey is a talented sailor who has been given instructions to lead a frigate to the Cape of Good Hope with two other captains under his command, and Stephen Maturin is a medical companion who serves as the ship's doctor/surgeon and is also an intelligence operative.
Whether reading the book or listening to the Audiobook version, the narrative is intriguing and difficult to put down. Rick Jerrom skillfully narrates the Audiobook from beginning to end, perfectly capturing the mood, pacing, and characters.
Final Thoughts:
These novels may appear to be simple naval battle stories, but they are much more, and they immerse the reader in unexpected events around every turn.
He's a fantastic storyteller with a knack for both inside and outside discourse. His stories are full of flawed human beings that you'll grow to love and adore over the course of the series. The concept of books as time machines is embodied perfectly in this series.
If you enjoy one Patrick O'Brian book, you'll want to read the rest of the series. It's atmospheric, humorous, and tragic all at the same time. The discourse is enthralling and feels historically accurate. Every book has social history, naval technology, navigational science, and a rip-roaring excellent tale.
I haven't had such a good time since Ken Follett’s epic "Pillars of the Earth," but while Follett’s sequels failed to live up to the original, O'Brian did, and now I want to reread Captain Sinbad by Graham Diamond, even though these books are unrelated except that they remind me of the sea and sailing.
Synopsis:
“"Jack's assignment: to capture the Indian Ocean islands of Réunion and Mauritius from the French. That campaign forms the narrative thread of this rollicking sea saga. But its substance is more beguiling still." —Elizabeth Peer, Newsweek
Captain Jack Aubrey is ashore on half pay without a command—until Stephen Maturin arrives with secret orders for Aubrey to take a frigate to the Cape of Good Hope under a commodore's pennant, there to mount an expedition against the French-held islands of Mauritius and La Réunion. But the difficulties of carrying out his orders are compounded by two of his own captains—Lord Clonfert, a pleasure-seeking dilettante, and Captain Corbett, whose severity pushes his crew to the verge of mutiny.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:
Action, Aubrey And Maturin, Billy Boyd, Botany Bay, British Navy, Character Development, Desolation Island, Drama, Diana Villiers, Early 19th Century, Fortune Of War, High Seas, Historical Fiction, HMS Surprise, Horrible Old, Indian Ocean, Jack And Stephen, Jack Aubrey, Jane Austen, Lucky Jack, Master And Commander, Maturin Series, Mauritius Command, Napoleonic Wars, Nautical Terms, Old Leopard, Patrick Brian, Patrick O’Brian, Patrick Obrian, Patrick O Brian, Paul Bettany, Peter Weir, Post Captain, Royal Navy, Russell Crowe, Stephen Maturin, United States, Uss Constitution, Well Written, Years Ago
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 95/100 Yes.
Buy The Kindle Version Here:
Free With Free Audible Trial:
The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels (Hardcover):
Master and Commander (2003) (PG+):
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/namsu
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No comments:
Post a Comment