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The Wine-Dark Sea

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The Wine-Dark Sea

By: Patrick O’Brian
Narrated by: Robert Hardy
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In this abridged audiobook, there is a fine line between privateer and pirate, between friend and foe.

With a beleaguered Britain already facing war on two fronts – against Napoleon’s armies in Europe but also against the young and vigorous United States – the objective of ship’s surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin is to light the touch paper of Peruvian revolutionary fervour, all while Captain Jack Aubrey engages with their many and varied enemies at sea.

Will revolution in South America tip the balance Britain’s way?

‘The truth is that we aficionados scarcely feel them to be novels at all. They are a world of their own, a world full of excitement, mystery, charm and good manners of which we have ourselves become participating citizens.’
JAN MORRIS, Observer

‘[O’Brian] goes on that very small shelf reserved for authors who, disregarding aptitudes, spin a story out of the heart and soul of their experience and the joy of living.’
Times Literary Supplement

Action & Adventure Espionage Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Medical Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fiction Adventure Exciting War Military
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Continue the series
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Blue at the Mizzen By: Patrick O'Brian

Critic reviews

‘If O’Brian’s novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive. . . They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action.’
Caroline Moore, Sunday Telegraph
‘The Aubrey–Maturin novels, by Patrick O’Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.’
Louise Erdrich
‘In Aubrey and Maturin, Patrick O’Brian has created two of the most enjoyable characters in twentieth-century fiction. Their relationship sustains an absorbing and thrilling sequence of naval stories, unrivalled in their complexity, full of impeccable detail and psychological insight. O’Brian switches from the intimate to the epic with equal assurance. One of the greatest authors to sail with.’
Michael Palin
‘My hero is Patrick O’Brian. It’s basically impossible to write that well.’
David Mamet
‘One of the most compelling and brilliant novelists of his time . . . Beyond his superbly elegant writing, wit and originality, Patrick O’Brian showed an understanding of the nature of a floating world at the mercy of the wind and the sea which has never been surpassed.’
Max Hastings, Evening Standard
‘I devoured Patrick O’Brian’s twenty-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.’
Christopher Hitchens
‘Written with most engaging enthusiasm that can’t fail to give pleasure to anybody who enjoys historical adventure flavoured with more than a dash of realism.’
The Sunday Times
‘One of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of historical fictional writing this century.’
James Teacher, Spectator
‘Patrick O’Brian brings depth to his sea-stories with outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance. You don’t have to love books about naval battles to become entranced.’
Katie Fforde
All stars
Most relevant
Although I have begun to thoroughly enjoy the Jack Aubrey series, this book lasts no longer than 3 hours compared to the usual 10 hours plus.
A second disappointment was that this new narrator does not have such good and consistent voices for the main characters as the normal excellent narrator and his Irish accent for Stephen Maturin strays into Welsh.
Let’s hope that the next in the series reverts to the previous high quality.

What a ridiculously short book

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I did not realise this book was abridged until I had bought it. The abridging was brutal, and left the story fragmented and lacking O'brian's usual attention to detail. The tension of chases, and of Maturin's journeys, was completely lost.

Robert Hardy's excellent reading took some getting used to, after Rick Jerome's equally excellent reading of the previous books. However, It is a shame that this book should be spoiled so. I look forward to enjoying the full version of the last book in what has been an outstanding series.

poorly abridged

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Abridged. Total rip off in my opinion . Not a patch on the Ric Jerome narrations

Terrible narration bought by accident.

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