BBook

"Books are a gateway into another world." - Anonymous

Suggested Reading

• The Aubrey/Maturin naval series by Patrick O'Brian, full of adventure, excitement, and you actually learn history
• The Horatio Hornblower seris by C.S. Forester, an excellent naval series that all can enjoy

Captain Jack Aubrey is back in the seas where he earned the name Luck Jack Aubrey and met his friend Stephen Maturin; but this time he's in command of the Worcester,an old line-of-battle ship termed one of the, "Forty Theives." The Worcesterhas been assigned to blockade on Tulon, one of the most gloriless, profitless tasks in the navy.

Lucky for Jack, his surgeon, Dr. Maturin, is also a British intelligence agent and after the Worcesteris severly damaged Jack, Stephen, and a rare hand-picked crew transfer to the Surprise,an old command of Jack's and one of his most loved ones. This fortunate transfer is thanks mainly to the fact that Stephen is needed in the Greek Islands to deal with a delicate situation there. The mission also calls for the Suprise'scaptain's utmost skill in diaplomacy and seamanship and one mistake on Jack's part would mean great problems for struggling Britain and the end of his career, perhaps his life.

On the Irish plain in 1914, Partrick O'Brian was born. By the 1950's he had already had moderate success in literature, but things really started in 1969 when he released Master and Commander;the first book in his Aubrey/Maturin historic naval series. From then on his books had great success, especially in Britain. By the 1990's O'Brian's naval series was also very popular in the United States and in 1996 he finished the last book of the series, The Yellow Admiral.

Many people (including myself) have found interest in O'Brian's books for many reasons, perhaps one being that they cover such a large expanse of naval history in the 1800's, but they are full of action to keep the reader entrapped in them. When writing the books O'Brian modeled the two main characters, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, after himself. Aubrey is an expert on nautical lore and an experienced seaman like O'Brian. Maturin, like O'Brian, is a great naturalist, an Irishman, a former intelligence agent, and a linguist.

Some say the O'Brian wrote his Aubrey/Maturin series hoping for it to achieve the same splendor as the Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, which it did, but there is more to it. Differing from Hornblower, Aubrey and Maturin are the image of their creator. O'Brian put more than his name into these books, he put himself. At times I have noticed that if you put Maturin and Aubrey together they would make an ideal British officer, an intelligence agent, experienced seaman, and linguist all in one, so when they work together they are the ideal pairing.

Patrick O'Brian is still alive at the age of 85 and even though his Aubrey/Maturin series has come to an end he has written several other sea books and biographies of Pablo Picasso and naturalist Joseph Banks. In his life O'Brian has gone from an unknown Irishman to an international writer and even though he might not be the author for everybody he will always be an author for me.

I started reading Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series around the beginning of this summer (1999) and have kept reading it throughout it. The Ionian Missionis the eighth book in the series so I wouldn't recommend anyone interest in starting the series to start with it, insted, read Master and Commander,the first book of the series.

I would suggest this series to anyone that is interested in historic naval novels, books about the sea, or books full of action. Even though the weaponry consists of cannons, pistols, and muskets, it still can keep the reader eager to read on. O'Brian describes the battle scenes so well that you can visualize it all, from the first gun to the striking of the colours (meaning the one who strikes is surrendering).

After you've read this series for awhile you will begin to feel with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, anger at their defeats and misfortunes, gladness at their well-deserved victory and recognition, I know I do. Another thing you gain from these books is knowledge of how old ships were worked; I find that aspect interesting too. Even though we don't use that technology any more it's still a good thing to know, especially since that technology was so important not long ago.

(If you enjoy this series another one that I'd recommend is the Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, the first book being Mr. Midshipman Hornblower.)

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