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Master & Commander (Aubrey & Maturin, #1)

Patrick O'Brian

Start date: May 3, 2010

Finish date: July 31, 2010

Discussion: NAPOLEONIC WARS

Discussion leader: Bentley

Why we're reading this: This is a readers' choice selection (voted for by The History Book Club membership).

Master and Commander…more
[close] This is a readers' choice selection (voted for by The History Book Club membership).

Master and Commander is an historical naval novel by Patrick O'Brian. First published in 1969 (US) (1970 in UK), it is first in the Aubrey-Maturin series of stories of Captain Jack Aubrey and the naval surgeon Stephen Maturin.

Closely based on the historical feats of Lord Cochrane, O'Brian's novel is set in the Napoleonic Wars.

Receiving many compliments from historians and literary critics and with a large popular following, Master and Commander has been reprinted a number of times.

In 2003, Russell Crowe starred in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, which adopts themes but not the plot from Master and Commander and many other books in the series.

Source: Wikipedia

"Come, sir, cannot I prevail upon you to go to sea? A man-of-war is the very thing for a philosopher, above all in the Mediterranean: there are the birds, the fishes--I could promise you some monstrous strange fishes--the natural phenomena, the meteors, the chance of prize-money. For even Aristotle would have been moved by prize-money. A ship must be a most instructive theatre for an inquiring mind. Prodigiously instructive, I do assure you, Doctor."

-Jack Aubrey convincing Stephen Maturin to ship out with him in M & C

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NAPOLEONIC WARS

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* NAPOLEONIC WAR SERIES - BOOKS COMPLETED - POLL RESULTS - NEW POLLS - BOOKS BEING DISCUSSED OR PLANNED
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 5 posts · 28 views

last updated Sep 04, 2017 10:22AM

* FRIGATES OF THE NAPOLEONIC ERA
By Bentley , Group Founder, Leader, Chief · 16 posts · 315 views

last updated May 10, 2020 08:13AM

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What Members Thought

Jun 28, 2007 Brigid rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, nautical

This series is one of my favorite books - in the sense that it can be viewed as one long novel - of all time. I re-read these, starting sometimes from the beginning, sometimes from somewhere else and then circling back, about once a year. I tend not to read past book 15 or 16, since the later ones aren't as good.

O'Brian has perfectly recreated the British navy of the early 19th century, down to the most astonishing details. His books provide a perfect complement to Jane Austen, who lived and wro ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 03, 2008 Moses rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2024

This book has only improved since I first read it half my lifetime ago. It is both a "ripping yarn" of a page-turner and a deeply insightful book. I treasure it. Can't wait to revisit the rest of the series. First read in 2008, I think again between 2010 and 2012, read again in 2015, read again in 2024.

---2008 review---
This was far, far better than I expected. I loved everything about it. It made me wish for a frigate, a weathered crew, and a salty chase on the high seas. Loved it, loved it, lov ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2011 Brian Storms rated it really liked it

Ah, here I am reading books about British naval history. What? No, this book is a lot of fun. O'Brian keeps the story moving just enough, and paints good pictures of both his characters and the ships they are operating on. Somehow despite the depth of the naval language he uses, I still get most of what is going on during the sailing, battling and general day to day life onboard the ship. I appreciate that he gives at least some depth to more than just a few of his characters. I admit, too, that ...more

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May 02, 2010 Rebecca rated it it was ok

just couldn't finish it, even after 150 pages, this book was BORING. i still rated it two stares because it was very informative about navy history, construction of ship's rigging and sails, and naval command. next time i have a desire to sail back to the 19th century, i'll be going with horatio hornblower instead of jack aubrey. ...more

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