Book info

• Title Master and Commander
• Author Patrick O'Brian
• Year 1969
• Genre Historical

1800. Napoleon Bonaparte is the biggest threat to peace yet seen. Newly promoted to command of his first ship, Captain Jack Aubrey, along with his crew, and new friend and ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin, must patrol a Mediterranean fraught with peril but rich with rewards. A glimpse of white sails on the horizon could mean a prize to be taken – or a fight for survival.

Thoughts

Interesting one, this. I don’t think I would have read it if it hadn’t been on the list I’m working through, but when I first started, I quite enjoyed it. Aubrey and Stephen make for a good pair of characters, although it surprised me how quickly they became friends having shown such animosity during the music concert!

Once on board the ship, however, I think my interest waned a little. I have previously enjoyed watching things like Hornblower, but reading about these types of sea battles doesn’t quite hold my attention the way it probably should. Even with the diagram at the start of the book, I couldn’t quite fathom all the technical terms and different sails and nautical bits and pieces.

Overall, there was enough of a story, coupled with good characters and amusing dialogue to keep me reading, but I don’t think I’d seek out any more nautical tales for a while.

Rating: 3 / 5