The Letter of Marque

Aubrey & Maturin #12

by Patrick O'Brian

Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. Now, for the first time, they are available in electronic book format, so a whole new generation of readers can be swept away on the adventure of a lifetime. This is the twelfth book in the series.

Jack Aubrey is a naval officer, a post-captain of experience and capacity. When The Letter of Marque opens he has been struck off the Navy List for a crime he has not committed. With Aubrey is his friend and ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin, who is also an unofficial British intelligence agent. Maturin has bought for Aubrey his old ship the Surprise, so that the misery of ejection from the service can be palliated by the command of what Aubrey calls a ‘private man-of-war’ – a letter of marque, a privateer. Together they sail on a voyage which, if successful, might restore Aubrey to the rank, and the raison d’etre, whose loss he so much regrets.

Around these simple, ostensibly familar elements Patrick O’Brian has written a novel of great narrative power, exploring his extraordinary world once more, in a tale full of human feeling and rarely matched in its drama.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adventure, Nautical, Audiobook, War

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Patrick O'Brian's acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin series of historical novels has been described as "a masterpiece" (David Mamet, New York Times), "addictively readable" (Patrick T. Reardon, Chicago Tribune), and "the best historical novels ever written" (Richard Snow, New York Times Book Review), which "should have been on those lists of the greatest novels of the 20th century" (George Will).

Set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, O'Brian's twenty-volume series centers on the enduring friendship between naval officer Jack Aubrey and physician (and spy) Stephen Maturin. The Far Side of the World, the tenth book in the series, was adapted into a 2003 film directed by Peter Weir and starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. The film was nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture. The books are now available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book format.

In addition to the Aubrey-Maturin novels, Patrick O'Brian wrote several books including the novels Testimonies, The Golden Ocean, and The Unknown Shore, as well as biographies of Joseph Banks and Picasso. He translated many works from French into English, among them the novels and memoirs of Simone de Beauvoir, the first volume of Jean Lacouture's biography of Charles de Gaulle, and famed fugitive Henri Cherriere's memoir Papillon. O'Brian died in January 2000.

The Aubrey-Maturin Series on Goodreads

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Captain Jack Aubrey is the heart-and-soul main character of the series, he shares the stage with his unlikely friend Dr. Stephen Maturin, the brain and introspection of these books. In The Letter of Marque Maturin takes center stage.

In the previous book Aubrey took a tough one on the chin. He spends much of this book trying to get his back, specifically going to daring and dangerous lengths to get himself reinstated on the Navy List after a stock market swindle lands him in a terrible predicament.

That's where the book's physical action takes place. Maturin's predicament is more cerebral. He's trying to reconcile with his estranged wife, who left him upon hearing rumors that he was parading around Italy with a mistress. Yes, he was spending a good deal of his time in the Mediterranean with another woman, but that all had to do with his intelligence work. Unfortunately he was sent away on an even longer voyage and was never sure that the letter of explanation ever arrived in his wife's hands. All of this is resolved through out The Letter of Marque, but resolved with all the painfully nuanced details that a battered relationship entails. It honestly reminded me of such episodes I went through in my younger years and I did not enjoy the reminder. It was all too well done.

Much of this book ties up the loose ends of the last book. There's a lot of housekeeping going on here. That of course leaves the reader feeling satisfied in the end, however, it doesn't always translate to the most exciting of novels, not all the way through at least.

There's also a lot of contemplation, just a little too much at times. This draws more attention to Patrick O'Brian's ever-present digressions on any number of topics, natural science being one of the foremost. Though I'd imagine readers who prefer authors to always "get to the point" would be annoyed, these meanderings are very enjoyable to me, except when they're paired with too much introspection all in the same book. That happens occasionally throughout this series and it happens again here, which is why I've knocked this down one star. Still in all, Jack Aubrey's personal victories and Stephen's struggle are engaging enough to keep The Letter of Marque well afloat!

My review of book #11, The Reverse of the Medal: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of book #13, The Thirteen Gun Salute: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Algernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

[9/10]

Blue sea, blue sky, white clouds, white sails, a general brilliance: what could be more pleasing?

Some say that the Vikings went raiding every year in order to escape from the six-month winter nagging of their wives (Frans Bengtsson). A similar argument could be made that the English became sailors in order to escape from the dreariness of their island's climate. I too am enjoying a return to the frigate "Surprise" in the company of Captain Jack Aubrey and of doctor Stephen Maturin, the two friends that took me around the world for some extraordinary voyages of naval engagements and naturalist exploration. A major pull is also the delightful play with language from the author, a reminder of the art of polite conversation and dry wit.

Jack, I do most humbly beg your pardon for being late; it was my own fault entirely, so it was – a gross self-indulgence in bustards; and I am most infinitely obliged to you for waiting for us.

Bustards used to be quite numerous in Romania until about a century ago. I learned about them in school, but I have never seen a live one, so I envy Mr. Maturin for his chance to observe some of these huge birds in England before he embarks on a new voyage. For those who need a reminder of events from the previous book: it took place mostly on dry land and dealt a heavy blow to Jack Aubreym who has been unfairly accused of insider trading at the London Stock Exchange. Stephen has stepped in to help his friend with the letter of marque from the title, basically a license to pilfer and pillage on the high seas in the best British naval tradition.

Coming back to the ship is the best medicine for Jack Aubrey's depression, after he was booted out of the Navy. With a handpicked crew from the most notorious pirate town on the Channel, he sets out to hunt for fat Spanish merchant ships, and for a way to rekindle his 'Lucky' surname.

Gazing at the beam he was dimly aware of the ship's living sound as she moved north-east with a slight following sea, the contended hum of the well-set-up rigging (taut, but not too taut), the occasional creak of the wheel, the complex aroma, made up of scrubbed plank, fresh sea-breeze, stale bilge-water, tarred cordage, paint and damped sailcloth.

I would love to give you a blow by blow account of the Atlantic chases and of the daring attacks on coastal France in the present episode, but Patrick O'Brian does it so much better than me. Let me just quote one of the Secret Service men reaction to hearing the story:

"As the Duke said, it was the completest thing."

And that includes the delights of conversation and of looking up new or archaic words in dictionaries, words that I would love to use in casual conversation although I fail too see an opportunity to include 'precipitancy' or to enjoy a dinner of 'green calipash and amber calipee swimming in their juices' [that second one is turtle soup, which I would like to taste even at the risk of aggravating Greenpeace, but it's not on the menu of any restaurant I know]

I mentioned several reasons why I keep coming back to the series: the action, the descriptions of nature, the use of language, the humour. There are two more aspects that come to the forefront in this present novel. One is already nostalgia, looking back at the long journey already made with the eyes of a stunned dinner companion for Jack and Stephen:

'Ascension Island! cried Lord Meyrick. 'What vistoes that calls to mind! What oceans of vast eternity! In my youth I longed to travel, sir; I longed to view the Great Wall of China, the deadly Upas Tree, the flux and reflux of the fabled Nile, the crocodile in tears...

The second reason is the way Patrick O'Brian writes of the pangs of love, the romantic delicate touch he uses to approach to relationships of happily married Jack and of long-suffering Stephen. A suffering that is becoming exquisitely unbearable in the last pages of the book as he is reunited in Stockholm with his wayward wife. I am beyond thrilled at the return of the fiery Diana Villiers.

What is next in line for the "Surprise" and its buccaneer crew? I can't wait to find out what new adventures will come their way in South America. I can understand Jack's newfound joy in his frigate:

She is in fine form – brought us out of the Suur Sound under topgallantsails, going like a racehorse, starboard tacks aboard, studdingsails aloft and alow, nip and tuck in that damned narrow Wormsi channel – you could have tossed a biscuit on to the lee shore – and she has a dozen bolts of the kind of poldavy they serve out in Heaven.

* poldavy * is a type of old style sailcloth

[Darwin8u · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I have often observed that extremely violent noise and activity go with good-fellowship and heightened spirits.”
― Patrick O'Brian, The Letter of Marque



Captain Aubrey has been kicked out of the Navy based on some financial speculation that he was involved in. Now, he is sailing the Surprise decked out as a privateer (under the Letter of Marque) which allows him to earn a bit more money and enjoy a bit more freedom. Captain Aubrey, however, is a man who misses the Navy and being away from the Navy is killing him. Meanwhile, Dr. Maturin has his demons to deal with (women, or one woman, and Laudanum).

This isn't the strongest book in the series (12 books in and this might be the weakest so far, but still isn't really weak or weak only relatively), but it is nice to see a different aspect of the the British Navy. Probably the most famous Privateer in history is Francis Drake. Aubrey engages in several battles at sea and is able "right" his fortune and perhaps even his name. There is a scene at the end when Dr. Maturin is under the spell of a large dose of Laudanum that while interesting is a bit weak (he dreams of balloons, and Diana). There was certainly plenty of foreshadowing of balloons to make its entrance in his dream believable, but it was just not polished enough. No. Polished isn't right. It didn't risk enough. It was a bit of a boring scene. Anyway, still a very good book -- with just a few barnacles attached.

[Malacorda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bello bello bello, come sempre del resto. Quando termino un libro della saga mi sento temporaneamente in pace con il mondo.

Resto sul generico per non spoilerare: dico solo che qui ci sono tanti colpi di scena e dopo numerosi episodi in cui tante cose andavano storte, qui finalmente si avrà il piacere di vedere qualcosa che si raddrizza. Il tutto senza che la grazia e la compostezza dell'autore vengano mai meno.

Avendo appena finito di leggere Casa desolata di Dickens - e avendo letto poco prima di questo l'undicesimo episodio il rovescio della medaglia - insomma con tutte le atmosfere e le descrizioni ben fresche nella mente, mi rendo conto di quanto O'Brian sappia essere dickensiano: lo è veramente tanto, sia nelle descrizioni della Londra del XIX sec. che nella creazione dei personaggi, una capacità tutto sommato notevole o comunque non scontata in uno che non è studioso di letteratura di professione. Ma come si diceva sopra, una certa grazia - anche grazia nell'imitare e nel prendere spunto senza scimmiottare banalmente - o ce l'hai di tuo o non la imparerai mai.

Quando si trova un autore con cui ci si sente in perfetta sintonia, non si ringrazia mai abbastanza il cielo e tutti i santi e i beati. A prestissimo con il prossimo episodio.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 – 4 stars

In a nutshell this volume of Aubrey and Maturin’s adventures covers a short, though very eventful, series of engagements in the Surprise under the titular letter of marque granted them by the crown, making Aubrey and company privateers (or in other words government sanctioned pirates). No doubt driven by his anger over the injustices he has suffered of late Aubrey proves to be a harsher than normal task-master to his crew, half of which are made up of old Surprises, the other of new men recruited from the population of privateers found in abundance in the town of Shelmerston. Most of the tension in the novel revolves around Aubrey’s audacious plan to fulfill his commission from the government in such a way as to gain the greatest amount of glory without losing any face (or credit) to the Royal Navy forces tasked with providing him assisstance. Also complicating Aubrey’s ultimate goal of re-instatement on the Navy List is his pig-headed (in Maturin’s opinion at least) adherence to his sense of personal honour and stubborn refusal to accept help that in any way implies his complicity in the scheme for which he was convicted. Sub-plots around Maturin’s use of laudanum and its wider implications both for himself and members of the crew, as well as his relationship with Diana round out the story. Oh, and both of our heroes take some very hard knocks, getting seriously injured, though in very different contexts and situations. (Poor Stephen seems to be habitually able to find new and devastating ways of falling down.)

You could certainly say that for all the vicissitudes to which O’Brian puts them he really does not like making his main characters suffer and here, after only one novel, he has provided both of them with a very happy ending indeed. Of course, I don’t imagine this to be a permanent state of affairs, but considering the level to which poor Aubrey had sunk by the end of The Reverse of the Medal he has certainly made a precipitous rise. For his part Stephen’s bliss may be short-lived (and no doubt will be, given its source), but both our heroes really can’t complain of their treatment at O’Brian’s hands...at least for the moment.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2008, and its the 12th wonderful outing in the "Aubrey/ Maturin" series.

In this tale Aubrey, after taken off the list of post-captains for a crime he did not commit, will get assistance from his friend and ship's Surgeon and not to forget spy, Stephen Maturin.

This same Maturin has bought for Aubrey their former ship the "Surprise", and to take command of this vessel as a privateer, or more politely termed as a Letter of Marque.

Together, and with their crew, they will set sail to look and confront the French, and if successful against the French by beating them hard and convincingly, can Aubrey redeem himself enough from the private hell of his disgrace, and while doing so also make a name of himself that government and Admiralty will restore him as a Navy man once again.

What is to follow is an fabulous seafaring adventure, in which Aubrey and Maturin will do anything to make the Admiralty and government of Britain make notice of them in a most decisive and determined way, and this is brought to us by the author in his own wonderful and authentic fashion.

Highly recommended, for this is another magnificent addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Letter Of Marque"!

[Phillip Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Aubrey is facing a career setback due to being framed for a financial crime that he did not commit and is now in command of a privateer ship furnished by Stephen Maturin. The upside is his crew are mostly seasoned professionals who respect Captain Aubrey and are willing to fight with him to the end. A privateer is basically a legal pirate who seizes enemy vessels but it was all legal due to a letter of marque issued by a government. This book is about how Jack Aubrey serves his country effectively even if he was falsely convicted by those with a grudge against him. The reputation of Captain Aubrey should make him eligible for a pardon but is a proud man that won't take less than exoneration for a crime he did not do. I like the characters in their dynamics and the more realistic battle scenes that don't gloss over injuries and deaths.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm returning to this series after a very long break, and I'm glad that I did. It's possible, after all, to read books wrong, which can end up spoiling the book for reasons that are nothing to do with the book itself. In the case of the Aubrey/Maturin series, the uniformity of their excellence in terms of writing, their largely character-driven, relatively shapeless novelistic plotting compared poorly, I thought, to the more intricate, complex and subtle mechanisms of Dorothy Dunnett. Of course, that's the wrong approach. They don't suffer in comparison at all. They are completely different animals. To read them for the thrill of clever plot twists that have been deviously woven into eight massive volumes is both pointless and a bit stupid, and I'm glad now that I've achieved this perspective, because the pleasures of O'Brian's novels are in some ways richer than Dunnett's, for all that Dunnett will always edge out O'Brian as one of my favourite writers.

Jack Aubrey is in a sorry state at the start of The Letter Of Marque, struck off the naval lists after a trumped-up charge, he is morose, short-tempered and depressed. Stephen Maturin has purchased The Surprise, however, and with the titular letter and a crew half of old naval hands and half of doughty pirates, they set out to restore Jack's fortunes.

The aforementioned uniformity of excellence of these novels tends to render each succeeding novel susceptible to accusations of sameness. Certainly there is progression. Each book is a chapter in the ongoing history of our heroes' friendship and careers. They age and change in circumstances and temperament. There are voyages, there are battles, there are some exchanges of intelligence, observations of flora and fauna, and occasional visits to hearth and home and family, where Jack can blunder cheerfully and Stephen can mope for his estranged wife. The story develops, the characters grow, the world opens up around them, a world so fully and perfectly realised that we come to understand that what we mistook for sameness is, in fact, recognition and comfort and familiarity. Each book gives exactly what it sets out to give, and so long as we don't mistake it for something it's not, we can fully enjoy them in all their warmth and generosity. For all love.

[Moloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nuovo anno, nuovo titolo di O'Brian per iniziare! Dodicesima puntata (su 21), La nave corsara.

Qualche altra volta mi sembra di aver osservato che i primi capitoli di questi romanzi si occupano di fare un certo lavoro di riepilogo e di intavolare gli sviluppi successivi, sono insomma talvolta più interlocutòri e meno interessanti, qui invece ho trovato la prima parte decisamente più intrigante.

È quella infatti in cui agisce un Jack cupo e ancora segnato dagli eventi raccontati in Il rovescio della medaglia : Stephen, e gli altri che lo conoscono da tempo, sono ben coscienti che è un Jack diverso, indurito, quasi "indifferente" a tutto, neanche il ritorno sul mare sembra scuoterlo o togliergli quella cappa di depressione in cui è sprofondato, pur continuando in superficie a lavorare e a darsi da fare (come si sa, è sempre al comando della Surprise, che però non è più una nave della Marina ma una nave da guerra privata, "corsara" appunto) con la consueta energia.
Sebbene Stephen lo informi ben presto che il complotto ai suoi danni è stato scoperto e che, se non il grande pubblico, almeno le alte sfere sanno benissimo che si è trattato di un inside job e che egli è innocente (noi lettori lo sappiamo dal finale del libro precedente), questo non vuol dire che la sua situazione cambierà a breve e che sarà riaccolto nella Royal Navy con tutti gli onori (conviene a tutti non ammettere l'errore e tenere ancora la cosa segreta, e pazienza se lui ci ha rimesso la carriera e la reputazione).

Per cui, doppiamente beffato (è innocente, i suoi superiori lo sanno, e tuttavia non ci si può far nulla), Jack è costretto a ingoiare qualche umiliazione (perché, accanto ai comandanti e agli ufficiali che gli sono molto amici e che si adoperano per aiutarlo, non mancano quelli che invece godono non poco nel vedere la sua disgrazia), a mettere insieme un nuovo equipaggio, un equipaggio con attitudini e atteggiamenti diversi da quelli di una nave militare, con gli inevitabili periodi di adattamento e addestramento per raggiungere i livelli di eccellenza che si prefigge, e lui stesso deve, dopo tanti anni, in molte cose cambiare la sua "impostazione mentale" in tema di tattica, strategie, manovre (di questi libri le parti più squisitamente dedicate alla tecnica marinaresca non sono mai le mie preferite, perché molto difficili da seguire nel dettaglio: però stavolta mi è piaciuto particolarmente un brano verso l'inizio in cui Jack riflette tra sé su come dovrà cambiare completamente la sua tattica nelle battaglie: mentre in una nave militare lo scopo principale è distruggere o comunque neutralizzare il nemico, ora dovrà stare soprattutto attento a che la preda non sia danneggiata; questo vuol dire una diversa tecnica di avvicinamento, rinunciare all'uso dei suoi amati cannoni... Tutta una serie di problematiche che Jack coglie subito, perché ovviamente sul mare è tutt'altro che uno sprovveduto, ma che danno anche al lettore l'idea del suo lieve "disorientamento" in questa fase incerta e inedita della sua carriera); non manca neanche qualche nuovo motivo di leggero "imbarazzo" nel suo rapporto con Stephen, che non è più solo il suo migliore amico e confidente, ma anche... il proprietario della nave, e quindi non più uno dei suoi sottoposti ma anzi... il suo capo!

Se non che, grazie agli uffici di amici e alleati che gli danno utili suggerimenti e anche a un po' di fortuna, alla sua abilità e arditezza e al duro lavoro di preparazione fatto da lui e dai suoi uomini, riesce a inanellare un paio di imprese di successo, tra cui la cattura di una grossa nave da guerra francese, che hanno una vasta eco tra il pubblico, e inoltre riesce ad assicurarsi un seggio in Parlamento. Insomma, a fine libro non è stato ancora riammesso nella Marina e riabilitato, ma si trova in una posizione notevolmente migliore rispetto a prima e, a detta di tutti, si tratta solo di aspettare ancora un poco (il tempo di un'altra missione in Sud America, che presumibilmente sarà trattata nel prossimo libro) e tutti i torti saranno riparati.

In tutta onestà, non mi sembra che La nave corsara sia una delle puntate migliori della saga: la "crisi" scoppiata ne Il rovescio della medaglia, che aveva scatenato in me una violenta e appassionata reazione e un'ansiosa attesa per il libro successivo, si risolve (sembra di sì, a meno di futuri colpi di scena) un po' troppo in fretta e un po' troppo bene per il nostro protagonista. Nella sua prefazione a Ai confini del mare, O'Brian scherzando aveva detto che, quando aveva iniziato a scrivere le avventure di Jack, non immaginava che le avrebbe portate avanti per così tanti libri, se l'avesse saputo avrebbe anticipato un po' l'anno di partenza delle sue imprese, invece ora si trovava già quasi alla fine delle guerre napoleoniche ed era costretto a... dilatare un po' i tempi per far entrare tutte le storie che desiderava raccontare in pochi anni ("è possibile che nel prossimo futuro l'autore [...] sia indotto a usare anni ipotetici, in certo modo simili alle ipotetiche lune utilizzate per calcolare la Pasqua: l'anno 1812a, per così dire, o addirittura 1812b"): insomma forse queste peripezie legate all'espulsione di Jack dalla Royal Navy sono state un po' "accelerate" per non rubare troppo tempo alle successive avventure situate negli ultimi decisivi anni di guerra (è una mia ipotesi). In effetti, però, io avrei preferito che questo inedito Jack "rinnegato" e costretto a reinventarsi durasse per più dello spazio di un solo romanzo (poi può sempre darsi che le cose si sviluppino in modo inaspettato, chi lo sa).

Ho provato inoltre una fitta acuta di delusione a leggere della fine ingloriosa e fuori scena del generale Aubrey, il padre di Jack, un personaggio fatto fuori senza troppe cerimonie e che invece speravo mi avrebbe dato qualche soddisfazione, anche se la sua morte è funzionale al processo di riabilitazione e reinserimento del protagonista.
Un po' di maniera sono stati anche i brevi quadretti, che in genere mi piacciono tanto, di Jack a casa con moglie e figli, anche se la scena dello spacchettamento del servizio di piatti è carina.

Insomma, tutto giusto e tutto al suo posto, in questo libro, ma forse non particolarmente memorabile o brillante come in altre puntate: una puntata che serve a "risolvere" un po' di problemi e a sciogliere qualcuno dei nodi precedentemente intrecciati. E anche la mia recensione stavolta non trova molto altro da dire, se non che, come al solito, ora ricomincia l'attesa per la lettura del prossimo libro, che in genere mi concedo in estate.
Si distinguono però la meravigliosa scena del pranzo di Jack e Stephen con i loro ex pupilli Babbington, Pullings e Mowett, ormai uomini fatti, una vera e propria reunion dei vecchi compagni della Sophie (in questo libro vi è più di un riferimento a quel famoso primo comando), e la lunga scena finale a Stoccolma con il tanto atteso ricongiungimento tra Stephen e sua moglie Diana, che avviene in modo volutamente poco enfatico e anzi quasi comico, con Stephen "strafatto" di laudano e scarsamente in sé, ma che dà comunque un gran senso di soddisfazione al lettore (nella mia testa comunque mi piace pensare che, checché scriva O'Brian, Diana qualche sfizio con il bel Jagiello se lo sia tolto!).

Mi sentirei "sporca" a dare meno di 4 stelle a O'Brian, per cui non lo faccio, anche se valutando freddamente questo romanzo è più da 3,5: mi ha lasciato la sensazione che le tante potenzialità introdotte dal libro precedente non siano state proprio sfruttate a pieno.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I finish this chapter of the Aubrey-Maturin tale, I feel like I've experienced something particularly special. As The Letter of Marque begins, we see both our protagonists at the lowest ebbs of key components in their lives: for Captain Jack Aubrey, it is his career; for Stephen Maturin, it is his love life. Yet by the end of this episode, their tides have come in.

In many ways The Letter of Marque could only happen in a series of the scope and depth of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books. It is essentially plotless; it is both the continuation of what came before and an introduction of what is to come, and there is really no way this book could stand alone. It is full of meaningful events, sure, but it really just about the main characters. So within the confines of the series, it is pivotal, and its emotional impact on the reader is substantial.

I believe it is safe to say that anyone who reaches The Letter of Marque loves Aubrey & Maturin, and they would have quit reading long before if that love hadn't developed. Thus, we care deeply about their successes and failures, and how the vicissitudes of the time and milieu they move through shape them. Which means that in a book like The Letter of Marque, when almost everything goes right, when Aubrey & Maturin have minor successes, major successes, and massive changes in their lives, we, the readers, are able to just take joy -- and a deep, deep breath of relief -- that nothing terrible (if you ignore a bullet lodged at the base of someone's spine) happens.

It feels like O'Brian's payoff to his loyal audience for voyaging with him for eleven books, and
a promise that there is more to come from him and his "Lucky" Captain & Intelligence Agent Doctor.

[Robert]

In Vol.XI of Robert's Adventures in Napoleonic Naval Literature, the protagonist found himself wearied and despondant, wondering whether it was "worth it" to go on.

THIS REVIEW HAS BEEN CURTAILED IN PROTEST AT GOODREADS' CENSORSHIP POLICY

See the complete review here:

http://arbieroo.booklikes.com/post/33...

[Vladimiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arrivati alla dodicesima avventura dei nostri, nulla si può dire sullo stile, ormai maturo e qui nella sua forma migliore. Il voto alto è qui dato dall'ottimo bilanciamento tra le parti d'avventura pura e quelle sulla terraferma: le ultime 50 pagine sono dopo la risoluzione dell'avventura marinara, eppure le ho quasi divorate perché concludevano (per il momento, almeno) vicende dei precedenti libri.

Ci sarebbe molto da dire, mi limito a dire questo: abbiamo Jack Aubrey che, dopo un'iniziale depressione reagisce alla radiazione dalla Marina gettandosi in un combattimento sanguinosissimo che lo vede nel vivo della lotta; il buon Maturin, tormentato dalla cara Diana, che riflette su quale "droga" assumere...

Consigliatissimo, si continua col vento in poppa!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

And we're back in form, battle-wise. Aubrey captures 12(!!) prizes in this book, one of them a French frigate which privateers are not normally supposed to go after, thus securing his reinstatement onto the Navy list. Admittedly, the fact that his good-for-nothing father, on the run after the last book's stock-fraud shenanigans, is found dead in a ditch and Aubrey more or less inherits his rotten borough seat in parliament might also have had something to do with it. Politics, amirite? Still and all, if you can't get reinstated for capturing 7 ships at a go, and then following it up with another 5 at a go, the latter right from under the noses of a French shore battery, then I think you'd probably best pack it in and go home.

The battle : Two really great set-pieces that kept the pages turning. The first one involves Aubrey very carefully maneuvering to make himself look like a prize that the USS Spartan is expecting (and trying to time his arrival to match as well), missing that rendezvous (drat!) but then catching sight of cannonfire in the night and chasing down the actual prize. He arrives as the Spartan has just finished a boarding action and captured the prize, so is quite beat-up, and Aubrey just barrels in and captures both. Not content with that, Aubrey figures out where all the prizes the Spartan had taken are holed up waiting for their master, sails there, and then (offpage, regrettably) decoys them out one at a time and scoops them all up as easy as kiss my hand. In the second one, Aubrey is set a mission : he will likely be reinstated if he can take on a national (as opposed to a private) man-of-war, and one heavier than the Surprise (for extra glory). Turns out there is one, the French frigate Diane, lying at anchor in a French harbor. Aubrey knows he can't sail in, nor does he want to meet said frigate on the water...so he sets the Surprise in a different location to bombard the town as a distraction, while most of his men row in under cover of darkness and storm the ship the night before it's supposed to set sail (and therefore most of its crew are in town carousing). And if you're in town anyway, well I suppose you might as well grab those two gunships in front of the Diane. And, well, if you've come all this way I suppose the two merchantmen behind the Diane would make nice prizes too...

O'brian does a great job building the tension on both of these battles, showing the seamanship/mathematics leading up to Aubrey being in the right spot at the right time for the first action, and repeatedly drilling the Surprises on the second action for many pages -- Aubrey knows it's an outsize order and they won't win in a straight-up fight so he has to make extra sure everyone knows exactly what they're doing to carry it off. His nickname of "Lucky Jack" aside, I think this book shows to perfection that Jack does not win primarily because he is lucky. He wins because he's a smart and capable seaman, who knows how to put his ship where it needs to be and wring the maximum possible advantage out of any given engagement.

The scientific : None to speak of.

The relationships : Less than the last one, until the final chapter where Stephen and Diana are reunited in Sweden. Everything appears squared up between them, though I think they're never going to make a supremely happy couple -- Diana mentions (and I agree) that though they love each other they're probably better living apart else they'd be like two cats in a sack. Stephen also gets a wonderful realization of Diana's character that I think is worth mentioning :

There were large and important areas of Diana's mind that were as strange to him as his was to her, but he was quite sure of one thing : her love of high, expensive living was far more theoretical than real. Certainly she hated being pinched and confined; but she hated being commanded more. She might love careless extravagance, but she would do little or nothing to come by the means of it: certainly nothing against her inclination. She valued nothing so much as independence. Nothing was more valuable to her than her independence.

The medical : We are reminded that gangrene is a thing, and that falling from the rigging and breaking your leg, which wouldn't be a huge deal in the present, can potentially lose you a limb back then. Maturin tests for gangrene by sniffing, which I guess is an ok way to do that. The young man fortunately DOESN'T catch it and keeps both his legs. Aubrey gets a bullet in the spine while cutting out the Diane, which very nearly clips his sciatic nerve, and Maturin has to (VERY CAREFULLY) remove it, at immense pain. Whew, half-inch to the left and Aubrey's a paraplegic, and this series is probably over. Maturin's assistant Padeen becomes addicted to laudanum and starts stealing the doctor's supply, refilling the bottle with brandy every time he nicks some to cover his tracks. This has the side effect of gradually weaning Maturin off of his addiction -- he can't understand why his usual dose seems to be getting less and less effective. Late in the novel he buys full-strength laudanum from a Swedish pharmacist and gets so unexpectedly high he falls down the stairs and is in a coma for several days. The upshot is his doctor recognizes laudanum addiction, refuses to dose him with it, so it looks like Maturin is off the laudanum entirely from now on. Don't worry though, he's discovered the wonderful joys of the coca plant from South America so we might get to go down a cocaine rabbit hole later instead. It's interesting to read in Stephen's mind that he does not think he's an addict. He knows the difference between an addict and what I guess he would label a social user, and he's just on the right side of the line, he says. Certainly he acts mostly normal, and doesn't go into fits if he doesn't have it, points in his favor, but at one point he's talking to someone and slips that his usual dose is a thousand drops, no big deal. The other guy nearly has a heart attack because the standard medical dose is ... forty drops. If you're running at 25x the normal dose I don't think you get to call yourself a recreational user anymore.

Today's malapropism : There isn't a full one, really, but we get three half-ones so we'll let it go :

* "At least it is better than rushing at a bull in a china shop without a plan", when discussing the practice runs of storming the Diane. Which isn't so much a malapropism as it is completely missing the point of the metaphor, but still, it's a good different point. Would YOU charge straight at a rampaging bull?

* (rebuking one of his subordinates for asking about prize money for the Diane in the run-up) : "Jack looked at him coldly, and said 'That is surely selling the bear...that is surely counting your bears...' he hesitated. 'In any case the question is premature and likely to bring misfortune." I believe he's mangling "counting your chickens before they've hatched" and "selling the bear's skin before it's killed", but at least both metaphors have the same meaning so mixing them doesn't do too much damage!

* (discussing his rejection of a pardon because a pardon would be admitting to initial guilt) : "In effect I said dirty dogs ate hungry puddings -- that is to say, hungry dogs ate dirty puddings; but in this case either I was not hungry enough or the pudding was too dirty, and I begged to be excused." I'm not really sure that this counts -- he does seem to have gotten it right on the second try, at least :D

I'm curious what they'll do with the Surprise -- I thought Jack might be out of commission (literally) for more than just the one book, and now that he's back in the Navy and on government ships, presumably, what good is owning a private frigate?

In any case, 12 down, 8 to go!

[Karl Jorgenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More wonderful naval action, sailing, and immersion into 1810 England. Here, disgraced Captain Aubrey takes up his old command on his old ship, the Surprise, under a letter of marque, a private warrant from the Crown authorizing the recipient to raid Britain's enemies for profit. Aubrey excels, as usual, and readers delight.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading ‘The Letter of Marque’ was an attempt at escapism and distraction immediately before and after the American election. It didn’t work, but I’m not sure anything would have. It was nice to have Aubrey and Maturin for company while I was too anxious to sleep, in any event. This is quite a sombre outing for pair, as Jack has been struck off the naval lists and is captaining a privateer that Stephen bought to cheer him up. Nonetheless, there are delightful moments of levity as well as thrilling sea battles. Notable sub-plots include Stephen’s troubling relationship with laudanum, an exploding pudding, Babbington’s eye for the ladies, and Jack not talking about his feelings but Stephen understanding anyway. O’Brian continues to have a wonderful ear for dialogue, a deft touch with characterisation, and a magical ability to evoke the early 19th century.

[Mitchell Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought I could still be surprised and excited about the twists and turns of this series 12 books in - but I am! This one was excellent, well paced well delivered. The characters and their relationships shone in this one with both of the main characters having their fair share of anguish. Some excellently drip fed plot devices keeping you guessing as to when they are all going to surface made it exciting and that coupled with the usual double helping of intrigue and carefully planned and excellently described action means this one is one of the best in the series for me :)

[sidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

one more o’brian down (only eight more to go, lol)!
thoroughly enjoyed this one, which had almost everything i love most about these books: storms, action, gruesome descriptions of 1800s surgery, a delightful scene of capt. jack aubrey, r.n. swimming with a seal, etc.
loved the character stuff too - jack and stephen continue to change and develop even after all this time and i love them more than ever

[Santi Ruiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

after several weeks away from reading entirely, we are so back

[Wealhtheow · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being falsely accused and convicted of a complicated investment scheme, Jack Aubrey has been cast out of the service. He's been in the Royal Navy nearly all of his life, and the separation breaks his heart. In hopes of moderating his misery, his particular friend Stephen Maturin buys the Surprise and secures a letter of marque for the ship. Aubrey can captain the Surprise once more, but this time as a privateer. It is acutely painful to him, but leads to one of his greatest professional triumphs. Stephen, meanwhile, finally meets face-to-face with Diana once more.

Everything about this book was beautiful and perfect and much-longed for. The only flaw was that the voice the narrator gives Diana Villiers is cloying and fake, and it nearly ruined my enjoyment of her scenes with Stephen. But not quite, for nothing could take away my adoration for the slow, weird ways they reconcile with each other.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The issue here is how to bring Jack back into the Royal Navy and how to reunite Stephen with his estranged wife Diana. Interestingly enough, Stephen and Martin discuss Aristotle's Poetics in connection with Jack's fate and the possible nature of the turning point in a hero's tragic destiny – way before events start to unfold in this book. For Jack, the turning point is necessarily a successful naval action - plus a seat in Parliament. For Stephen is one of his frequent tumbles that almost kill him – this one in connection with his abuse of opium. The book ends quite funny with all of them declaring that now they will all be content and happy forever; and they do this by singing together Mozart's “ah, tutti contenti saremo cosí”.

[Miguel Angel Pedrajas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro emocionante, lleno de acción, giros, justicia y algo de drama. O’Brian es mi ídolo literario en este género. Simplemente es capaz de reinventarse, sorprender, prescindir de lo superficial y sabe dar a sus lectores lo que buscan. Tanto es así que es capaz de omitir viajes y escenas que podrían alargar la novela y resumirlas a modo de cartas o diálogos. Y eso que podría recrearse en ellas, pues no esconden escenas interesantes y más madera para algunos amantes de batallas navales o giros dramáticos. Pero O’Brian es uno de esos escritores ya experimentados que sabe dónde llevar a sus lectores para darles reveses y suficiente emoción para que no puedan dejar de leer sus libros. Es una delicia y tremendamente adictivo.

Después de los acontecimientos de la novela anterior, es imposible no coger esta novela con más ganas de que nunca.
¡El capitán Jack Aubrey en su propio navío corsario! La veterana HSM Surprise convertida en un barco privado, con patente de corso por la expulsión injusta de Aubrey de la Armada por culpa de un complot de conjuradores al servicio de los franceses. Y realmente y, sin saberlo, debido a que el objetivo era perjudicar a su amigo y colega: el cirujano Stephen Maturin. Pero cómo se revuelve ante la adversidad y gracias a la amistad entre ellos, consiguen gestas increíbles. ¡Y qué escenas!

Una maravilla. Y no me canso de repetirlo. Las novelas de O’Brian dejan cada vez el pabellón más alto y con ganas de nuevas dosis literarias.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Letter of Marque is the twelfth book in the Aubrey/Maturin series, and I don’t seem to be enjoying it any less as time – and the series – stretches on.

Here we catch up with Jack after he’s been struck off the list of post-captains for a crime on the stock exchange that he could never have understood enough to commit. But he’s not without a boat, The Surprise having been surreptitiously bought by his now rather minted best friend Stephen, and given a letter of marque to protect them from the Royal Navy in their new activity of privateering (piracy with its best manners on display).

No longer full of pressed men and marines, the men who now serve Jack are all those who want to be there, recommended either by their past experiences of his command or drawn by the lure of the flashy prizes he’s often been lucky to bring in. And in the background, the English authorities are laying out the necessary plans to reinstate Jack should he do enough damage to the French to justify their backpedalling.

Meanwhile, Stephen is still ministering to the ship in his role as doctor while gathering information about the enemy in his other, secret intelligence role. All while pining over Diana, his erstwhile wife, and completely failing to notice that his servant is pilfering and then diluting what remains of his laudanum supplies.

Picking one of these books up is like slipping into a soothing warm bath, no matter whether the book depicts one of the more successful or miserable outings for Jack and Stephen. Complete with a couple of rousing engagements, The Letter of Marque was a lovely catch up with my favourite literary couple.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story rolled memorably along until the last 50 pages or so when it took a detour into snoozetown with the tedious love woes of the Doctor. that, plus another placeholder ending, degrades the overall enjoyment of the book, but not the series.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

But who doesn’t love a very happy ending, for all love?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this twelfth volume of the series, the Reverend Martin gives some advice on happy endings to an aspiring naval author: “When Mowett told me he meant to write a very ambitious piece called “The Sea-Officer’s Tragedy”, based on Captain Aubrey’s career, his victories and his misfortunes, I told him I hoped he would make it end happy. “I can’t possibly do that,” says he. “Since it is a tragedy, it must end in disaster.” I begged his pardon for disagreeing, but I had the support of the greatest authority in the learned world, Aristotle himself, in saying that although tragedy necessarily dealt with doings of great-minded men or women, in a high and serious manner, it by no means necessarily ended unhappy....”.

This passage felt like a wink from the author after all the vicissitudes Captain Jack Aubrey and Naval Surgeon/naturalist/spy Stephen Maturin endured in “The Reverse of the Medal”, for in this volume, our heroes face many more challenges and battles on land and sea, but surmount them all, more or less, to arrive at their own happy endings, at least for the moment.

I have enjoyed revisiting this series via audiobook and the wonderful readings by Patrick Tull, and this seems like a good place to take a break before beginning the next round of voyages, battles, misunderstandings, botanizing, and intrigue, with the South Pacific, Australia, and South America ahead.

Reread 8/17-8/19/22

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Jack and Stephen face down their personal demons. In Jack's case, his susceptibility to land sharks has caused him to get involved in a scam that ultimately gets him stripped of his Navy commission. It will take a lot of luck for him to get reinstated. Fortunately, he is not called "Lucky Jack Aubrey" for nothing. Also, he is in command of a privateer full of eager and able seamen.

For Stephen, it's his long-term opium habit. (He is not addicted, of course. Never in life.) When his self-medication finally gets him into big trouble, a brother physician prohibits the use of opium. This is a problem for Stephen, until he remembers about his supply of Peruvian coca leaves.

Neither Jack nor Stephen would have survived these ordeals if not for their mutual friendship, the loyalty of their shipmates, and the devotion of their wives (each in her own very different way). It also helps them to have friends in high places.

One thing I really appreciate about Patrick O'Brian is his astounding gift for showing rather than telling.

[C.A. A. Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm profoundly in love with Diane Villiers. Steve Maturin's estranged wife. Both these characters turn over another leaf in this glorious tale of the continuing Aubrey/Maturin saga. Captain Jack Aubrey has been struck off the naval list because of enemy agents framing him for a stock exchange crime he did not commit. Many know he has been framed and the enemy agents guilty of the entrapment have fled the country. Aubrey is presented with HMS Surprise, which Steven Maturin has bought out of his inheritance. Therefore, Jack Aubrey is sailing the ship as a Letter of Marque - a privateer. He is still fighting for his country and trying to clear his name and win reinstatement back into the Royal Navy.
Once again I was enthralled by this twelfth story of the Royal Navy saga set in the time of Napoleon and the British/American War of 1812 to 1814. I can't wait to start on the next one. Splendid stuff.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky Jack Aubrey is back! And what a comeback it is!
But that will come in due course and first Jack and Stephen have their fair share of misery and heartache. And while Jack bears it with a certain degree of fortitude though being uncharacteristically reserved and sullen, Stephen is practically falling to pieces, losing almost all his quick-wittiness and sharpness of mind. But certain wounds are not to be suffered alone in a quiet corner and action is always the best remedy so both Jack and Stephen are constantly on their way and the book seemed to me as action-packed as possible. Stephen even had a chance to wield a sword in cold blood - a delight nearly forgotten since the first books.
I noticed that thoughout the series I tend to say that the book I've just read was the best so far, so making at least half the series "best books". But these three starting with "The Far Side of the World" raise the standard so high that I wonder if the rest of them will be able to maintain it.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual, brightly colored Aubrey and Maturin high-seas fun, leaven with the sobering hash each makes of his health and personal life. They have the whole world helping them into their personal infernos, but the fault lies not in their stars but in themselves. Friends and family--and each other--bear them through as usual on a freshening breeze and the promise of yet greater adventures.

[Judith Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I love e'm all, but this is one of my faves! This is the 10th Aubrey & Maturin I've re-read this year - something's had to soothe my savage breast following the Brexit vote and I can't take up smoking again - been off the evil weed for 35 years!