Master and Commander - Patrick O'Brian - [PDF download] - Books Focus
Master and Commander - Patrick O'Brian

Master and Commander

By Patrick O'Brian

  • Release Date: 2011-12-05
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 454 Ratings
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Description

The classic first novel of the epic Aubrey/Maturin series, widely considered “the best historical novels ever written” (Richard Snow, New York Times).

Ardent, gregarious British naval officer Jack Aubrey is elated to be given his first appointment as commander: the fourteen-gun ship HMS Sophie. Meanwhile—after a heated first encounter that nearly comes to a duel—Aubrey and a brilliant but down-on-his-luck physician, Stephen Maturin, strike up an unlikely rapport. On a whim, Aubrey invites Maturin to join his crew as the Sophie’s surgeon. And so begins the legendary friendship that anchors this beloved saga set against the thrilling backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.

Through every ensuing adventure on which Aubrey and Maturin embark, from the witty parley of their lovers and enemies to the roar of broadsides as great ships close in battle around them, O’Brian “provides endlessly varying shocks and surprises—comic, grim, farcical and tragic.… [A] whole, solidly living world for the imagination to inhabit” (A. S. Byatt).

Reviews

  • Nice historical novel

    3
    By kwolf22
    I really enjoy these sorts of historical novels - especially novels about Naval history. I wish that the author would have included a glossary of terms and phrases with this book at I was not familiar with many of the nautical terms, historical slang, and “common knowledge” references that were used throughout. I was also somewhat disappointed with the lack of a coherent plot. As the book moves from mission to mission, the author introduces characters & concepts that seem to knit together a larger story, but that is never achieved. Most disappointing is the ending which wraps up JA’s last mission, but fails to address the book as a whole. We’re not even left with a cliffhanger! Those points aside, the book was a fun read, filled with lots of action & adventure. I’ll certainly be reading more in the series!

  • Master and Commander

    5
    By DealerDude
    A gripping tale of the British naval life as told from the exploits of a young captain and his companion the doctor. Live that life of hardship and adventure in the beginning of the seventeenth century told by a master storyteller blending truly human characters with the starkest realism of the navy with sail and gunpowder at war. An engrossing page turner with more to come. Better each reread.

  • The Best Naval Series Ever

    5
    By mhawks
    This series is the greatest! Aubrey/Maturin are a superb pair and the books are written by a master.

  • 100 Words or Less

    2
    By JRubino
    As a fan of the movie (Am I supposed to admit something like that?), I was curious about the novel. So I picked this up. A handful of parts were well done, but overall I found much of the writing to be lacking in so many ways. It seemed unfocused, with the characters and plot sort of hodgepodge – do I really care about the intrigue of the captain’s promotion or the division of the war spoils? The additional pages of ship-sailing explanation made the whole mess come to a grinding halt. Extremely disappointing.

  • Simply the best historic naval fiction

    5
    By Tom RS
    Without question, the best of its kind. Beware, this is highly addictive!

  • Disappointment at the price

    5
    By datorr
    I am a huge fan of the series, and I go back and re-read them every few years- they never get old. I would love to also have the books in digital form, but cannot bring myself to pay full price all over again for the convenience. Please issue the full set of books at a discounted price! The books are available in paper form as a set, why not the electronic versions? You might tempt those of us who already own the paper copies.

  • Master and Commander

    5
    By Bix fan
    I absolutely loved this book as well as the entire series. Impeccable story telling combined with fascinating historical accounts.

  • One of the best writers in the English language

    5
    By AAAndrew
    The Aubrey Maturin series is one of the great accomplishments in English letters. O'Brian brings together a mastery of the era and of language into an epic exploration of friendship and loyalty. I am thrilled to see them finally in the iBook store. One warning. These can be incredibly addictive. Once you begin to read them, you won't want to stop. There are three authors I will read again and again: O'Brian, Austen, and Terry Pratchett. O'Brian is the better writer.

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