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Treason's Harbour Review

Treason's Harbour Review

Treason's Harbour

Published: 1983

Author: Patrick O'Brian

Book 9 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:

Treason's Harbour Summary


The Review:

Patrick O'Brian’s Treason's Harbour, maybe more than any other novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series, is set in the real and dirty field of international conspiracy, intelligence, and diplomacy. Whereas a man-of-war, even one as little as Jack Aubrey's beloved 28-gun HMS Surprise, is self-contained,

Europe's ports and cities during the Napoleonic Wars are teeming with enemy agents, opportunistic dockyard administrators, and, in the case of colonial ports, disgruntled inhabitants. Thus, for British intelligence operative Stephen Maturin, the Maltese port of Valetta, where HMS Surprise is being reconditioned, is a site of both opportunity and peril. The threat stems from the presence of high-ranking French agents who are aware of his operations and background.

Because of the turmoil, Jack Aubrey is dispatched on a pair of fatal missions. This isn't typically the storyline of a thrilling adventure novel, but Patrick O'Brian is a master storyteller, transporting Aubrey and Maturin across the desert with a track of camels and a diving bell, and trapping H.M.S. Surprise in a Mediterranean harbor with three French battleships moving in.

I suppose Jack expends all of his luck avoiding such traps and has little left over for triumphs, but that still leaves us with plenty of Napoleonic naval detail and action to keep us delighted as modern readers.

Action and intrigue. What else is there to say? This novel leans more toward the suspense, but that's not a bad thing. The odd thing is that I read this series a long time ago and have subsequently read more current authors in the category who have more modern sensibilities and vocabulary, which I enjoy but find quite different from Patrick O'Brian or Pope. 

Nobody alive today can tell us which version of character and language is truer, but I enjoy the characters and language in a variety of genres, including Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series. I'm occasionally shocked to find myself smiling at the comedy, which I probably missed when I originally read the series as a youngster.

The author has a tremendous understanding of the time, both on land and at sea, and this talent is beautifully expressed in this work. The historical details are near faultless as always, and even the relevant terminology is pulled out so we appear to be learning it. A severe, terrible, yet humorous event will occur, which will eventually cause major problems with our heroes' respective spouses.

However, it takes a third of the novel for Aubrey to embark on his first maritime expedition. This provides the sense that the action is moving at a leisurely pace. Our heroes narrowly avoid sailing into a trap and losing their whole army on their maiden expedition, which brings them to the Red Sea, one of the least pleasant locations on earth, according to the author's account. 

The commander in chief is well aware that his information flow has been compromised when they return, having also been attacked by a Bedouin attack on their land march over the Isthmus of Suez (no canal at this time, of course), but not even Dr. Maturin acknowledges Wray's participation in the leak.

It's still an entertaining read, and if you're going to read the full canon, you can't really skip any of the novels since the character development and even some of the plot elements would appear strange if you don't. Remember that turmoil in both heroes' marriages awaits them at home while they fight an adversary that knows what their instructions are ahead of time.


Final Thoughts:

This is the ninth book in the series, so if you've read this far, I'm guessing there's not much more I can say to persuade you to buy it or even read the reviews! I'm sure I'll read this book, and the next one, and the next one, regardless of the reviews. 

If you've made it this far, I promise you'll find exactly what you're searching for - more of the fantastic Patrick O'Brian writing we've come to anticipate. Definitely on par with the previous books in the series.

The characters are realistic and relatable. The scenarios remind me so much of a few navy friends and the stories they shared, in that what may appear minor and insignificant in the grand scheme of things is significant and vital to the people assigned to the smaller job or purpose. 

I frequently feel like I'm watching rather than reading the novel because Patrick O'Brian captures the spirit of the era's combat sailor's attitudes and worries, as well as location and time, so beautifully. I recommend starting with the first book and working your way up to this one before finishing the series. You can't go wrong with this.


Synopsis:

“"Every [Aubrey-Maturin] book is packed to absolute straining with erudition, wit, history, and thunderous action." —Joe Hill

All Patrick O'Brian's strengths are on parade in this novel of action and intrigue, set partly in Malta, partly in the treacherous, pirate-infested waters of the Red Sea. While Captain Aubrey worries about repairs to his ship, Stephen Maturin assumes the center stage for the dockyards and salons of Malta are alive with Napoleon's agents, and the admiralty's intelligence network is compromised. Maturin's cunning is the sole bulwark against sabotage of Aubrey's daring mission.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Action, Admiral Harte, Age Of Sail, Anyone Who Loves, Aubrey And Maturin, Billy Boyd, Botany Bay, Blockade Duty, British Navy, Character Development, Desolation Island, Diving Bell, Drama, Diana Villiers, Early 19th Century, Fortune Of War, French Agents, High Seas, Historical Fiction, HMS Surprise, Horrible Old, Indian Ocean, Ionian Mission, Jack And Stephen, Jack Aubrey, Jane Austen, Lucky Jack, Master And Commander, Maturin Series, Mauritius Command, Napoleonic Era, Napoleonic Wars, Nautical Terms, Old Leopard, Patrick Brian, Patrick O’Brian, Patrick Obrian, Patrick O Brian, Patrickoobrian, Paul Bettany, Peter Weir, Post Captain, Red Sea, Royal Navy, Russell Crowe, Simon Vance, Stephen Maturin, Surgeon Mate, Treasons Harbor, 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+):


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The Ionian Mission Review

The Ionian Mission Review

The Ionian Mission

Published: 1981

Author: Patrick O'Brian

Book 8 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 Ionian Mission Summary


The Review:

A big part of Patrick O'Brian's "The Ionian Mission" takes place in the western Mediterranean, and despite Patrick O'Brian's considerable skill at writing, it was sometimes difficult to read because the monotony of the duty was punctuated by tantalizing opportunities for action, both at sea with Aubrey and ashore with Maturin's espionage, both of which ended without real satisfaction. The fact that I felt for the crew as they battled with the lack of action speaks something great about Patrick O'Brian's ability as a nautical writer.

Readers may become bored while reading this novel even if it is not boring, but this is simply due to the way the author wrote it perfectly as if he has been strictly consistent and totally honest in his portrayal of life in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and blockade duty was as much a part of life at the time as outright action. The portrayal of Boredom is so superb that it makes the reader as restless and hungry for a confrontation as the crew is. To be honest, the fighting he portrays is as much a part of the plot as the battle he recounts in his brilliant way.

With a passion for both history and science, it's amusing to see Dr. Maturin's dissatisfaction with old salt beliefs and snake oil treatment, even if his own understanding of science, medicine, and natural history would be considered antiquated and primitive by modern standards when readers of this time read it.

One of the finest elements of this series is the contrast between the large life-loving, extremely gregarious, though occasionally naive Jack Aubrey and his quiet, private, highly observant, and frequently sang-froid companion. We get to see each of them at their best and worst, bolstered and dragged down by the other's best and worse.

This episode seemed a little slow and looked to be filler. But, as I already stated, it is not sluggish. The writing is excellent, as it usually is, but there is very little action until about halfway through the novel. Although recounting week after week of everyday repetition would stretch any writer's creativity, but it is not possible with Patrick O'Brian because I can clearly see what he did with this story and made it an example of how a writer can make our brains think in slow and fast moods to the point where we start to feel exactly as the characters we are reading about.

I enjoyed it, as I am sure any dedicated fan of the Aubrey/Maturin novels will, as will anyone who is reading the series in order, beginning with Master And Commander.

As always, I must caution readers not to read this book if they have not previously read the books in the series.


Final Thoughts:

I read Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series over the course of a few months. It was never boring. Dr. Maturin is a complete nautical beginner, and Patrick O'Brian skillfully informs you facts of 18th-19th century British naval life by having the experienced individuals, who would never need to explain this to each other, explain it to him. There's a lot of contrast between personalities who have known each other for a long time, some as close friends or family members, and the intriguing and often untrustworthy strangers they meet, all set against the backdrop of major historical events.

What a wonderful tale! Aubrey gets in difficulty both on land and at sea as a result of poor judgments, yet he is superb at sea when it comes to sailoring and war tactics, and Patrick O'Brian has never moved in his opinion of the captain. Aubrey has endeared himself to me as a reader because he is clever, but he doesn't know it or dwell on it because he is in his environment. He realizes and concentrates on the fact that he is the exact opposite of bright in personal affairs. What a beautiful balance in storytelling because I, as a reader, worry for Aubrey every time he steps ashore and I'm anxious about him at sea, but I also believe that every sea encounter will end as well as it can, which doesn't always mean well. This is another excellent episode by Patrick O'Brien, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.


Synopsis:

“"Patrick O'Brian is one author who can put a spark of character into the sawdust of time, and The Ionian Mission is another rattling good yarn." —Stephen Vaughan, The Observer

Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, veterans now of many battles, return in this novel to the seas where they first sailed as shipmates. But Jack is now a senior captain commanding a line-of-battle ship in the Royal Navy's blockade of Toulon, and this is a longer, harder, colder war than the dashing frigate actions of his early days. A sudden turn of events takes him and Stephen off on a hazardous mission to the Greek Islands, where all his old skills of seamanship and his proverbial luck when fighting against odds come triumphantly into their own.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Action, Admiral Harte, Age Of Sail, Aubrey And Maturin, Billy Boyd, Botany Bay, Blockade Duty, 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, Ionian Mission, Jack And Stephen, Jack Aubrey, Jane Austen, Lucky Jack, Master And Commander, Maturin Series, Mauritius Command, Napoleonic Era, Napoleonic Wars, Nautical Terms, Old Leopard, Patrick Brian, Patrick O’Brian, Patrick Obrian, Patrick O Brian, Patrickoobrian, Paul Bettany, Peter Weir, Post Captain, Royal Navy, Russell Crowe, Simon Vance, Stephen Maturin, Surgeon Mate, 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+):

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The Surgeon's Mate Review

The Surgeon's Mate Review

The Surgeon's Mate

Published: 1980

Author: Patrick O'Brian

Book 7 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 Surgeon's Mate Summary


The Review:

Patrick O'Brian delivers one of his most complicated and sweeping tales in "The Surgeon's Mate," in which he reunites with his well-known characters, naval officer Jack Aubrey and surgeon/spy Dr. Stephen Maturin. In comparison to some of the previous novels in the series, it almost looks as if three distinct narratives were sewn together to create this one; still, it has the potential to become another classic in the series.

Patrick O'Brian's ability to surprise, enchant, and keep both character and plot alive after seven novels astounds and pleases me to be a part of a readers group that reads his books. This is why Patrick O'Brian has received so much recognition and acclaim, which he rightfully deserves.

Aubrey returns home after a lengthy absence in "The Surgeon's Mate," only to find himself in financial and legal difficulty onshore, a predicament that seems to be as frequent among sailors in the early 1800s as it is now. In addition, Cpt. Aubrey must face with the ramifications of his affair in Nova Scotia but Aubrey and Dr. Maturin, thankfully, are swiftly dispatched to the Baltic.

The book's title "The Surgeon's Mate," which is usually obvious as the novel progresses, remained a mystery until the very last few pages, and was, in any case, a double entendre. I couldn't help but smile as I read the final few pages, realizing Patrick O'Brian and Aubrey both like a nice turn of phrase. The near-perfect ratings of Patrick O'Brian's books are well deserved, as I've noted in each of my prior reviews of his series. This is another book that I strongly suggest.

The reader may believe the title refers to a "comic guy" throughout the novel, but it is clear towards the conclusion that this is not the case. In any case, "comic guy" is a strange character who isn't properly filled out. He appears to be there largely for comedic relief, but he also functions as a narrative device later in the novel. (I am not mentioning the name, instead I am using "comic guy" for the sake of new readers)

At this point in the series, The Surgeon's Mate is the least fulfilling of the Aubrey-Maturin books, but only if read as a stand-alone story. Although the last fifty pages are thrilling, the remainder of the novel is even more episodic than normal, despite the fact that it is still captivating (Patrick O'Brian's language style is still pleasing). It reads more like a conclusion to the preceding and excellent book in the series, The Fortune Of War than a stand-alone work and I don’t think it is a stand-alone novel.

I understand that some readers may find it difficult to get past the first few chapters of this book. They may give up, but if they read a little longer, the plotline begins to pick up. There were also some really long paragraphs that may have been cut but without some of them, it is not easy to understand what is happening. Overall, though, it was a pleasurable read. New readers just need to follow along for a little while to get acclimated to it, but I believe everyone reading this section should realize that you should begin this series with the first book in order to become familiar with the language and writing style.

The reason I claimed it wasn't as good as the other books in the series is that I was speaking as someone who didn't realize that this book isn't standalone and is essentially a wrap-up of the events of the prior book. And, as I indicated in the previous paragraphs, this is the seventh book in the series, so how can someone unfamiliar with the story comprehend what is going on? So just begin with the first book in the series and read it after you've finished the other six. I'm confident you'll enjoy it and want to continue reading the series.


Final Thoughts:

This novel has a lot going on; basically, three narratives are moving at the same time, and a novice reader or someone thinking of this book as a standalone or canon in Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin world would be overwhelmed.

The first plot begins with our guys escorting the USS Chesapeake into Halifax Harbor on the frigate HMS Shannon.

The second plot is their journey to the Baltic, where they are tasked with negotiating the surrender of a fortification on an island.

The third plot is their journey to Spain, which is hampered by a meeting with a French 74 and a storm that causes their ship, a corvette, to crash onto a perilous lee beach.

I won't go into depth for the spoilers' sake, but I wanted to include these plots to emphasize that this book would not be enjoyable unless the reader is aware of the previous story. While it is possible to read this book without first reading The Fortune of War, it is much simpler if you have just read it.

As always, a fantastic read that comes highly recommended, but just read it at the number given and that is number seven.


Synopsis:

“"Vividly detailed 19th-century settings and dramatic tension punctuated with flashes of wry humor make Patrick O'Brian's nautical adventure a splendid treat." —Publishers Weekly

Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin are ordered home by dispatch vessel to bring the news of their latest victory to the government. But Maturin is a marked man for the havoc he has wrought in the French intelligence network in the New World, and the attention of two privateers soon becomes menacing. The chase that follows through the fogs and shallows of the Grand Banks is as tense, and as unexpected in its culmination, as anything Patrick O'Brian has written.”


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, Patrickoobrian, Paul Bettany, Peter Weir, Post Captain, Royal Navy, Russell Crowe, Simon Vance, Stephen Maturin, Surgeon Mate, 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+):


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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.
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
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