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  • Master and Commander

  • Aubrey-Maturin Series, Book 1
  • By: Patrick O'Brian
  • Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
  • Length: 15 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,474 ratings)
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Master and Commander cover art

Master and Commander

By: Patrick O'Brian
Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
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Summary

Master and Commander is the first of Patrick O’Brian’s now famous Aubrey-Maturin novels, regarded by many as the greatest series of historical novels ever written. It establishes the friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey RN and Stephen Maturin, who becomes his secretive ship’s surgeon and an intelligence agent. It displays the qualities which have put O’Brian far ahead of any of his competitors: his depiction of the detail of life aboard an early 19th century man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the landscape and of the sea. O’Brian’s portrayal of each of these is faultless and the sense of period throughout is acute. His power of characterisation is above all masterly. Ric Jerrom reads this classic sea story from Patrick O’Brien.

©2014 Audible, Inc.; 1970 The Estate of the late Patrick O’Brien CBE

What listeners say about Master and Commander

Average customer ratings
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

At last, unabridged and well read...it begins.

... It is not the best of his novels, (he really hits his stride a few stories down the line) but it is the right place to begin and after a slow start in Port Mahon this story gets interesting. The really great thing about O Brian's novels, apart from the detail and authentic atmosphere, is the way he manages to steer clear of the old three act hero's journey structure. There is action and heroism of course, but so much more, and his stories seem to warp and change key in unexpected ways, often wrong-footing the reader. I do hope we are going to see the rest of the series released unabridged too. (If possible read by Ric Jerrom.)

Huzzay!

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75 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Unabridged at last

This is the first of a fantastic series of book. I have read them all. I must admit that the first time I read Master and commander I was not drawn straight into it. I found it to be a bit of a slow burn and O’Brian does not leave out any detail of life on board ship so there is a sea of very technical language that it is very easy to sink in. I persevered however and was soon lost in the world of the 19th century royal navy and the many adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and his friend and Master Spy Stephen Maturin. The day I finished the last book was a sad day indeed but what a ride!
At the moment this and just one other of the books seem to be available in their unabridged form. I Have asked and beg any fans of the novel to join me in asking Audible to try and get the whole series available in the unabridged form on this side of the Atlantic where jack and Stephan would want them.

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66 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Jack! You have debauched my Sloth!

What made the experience of listening to Master and Commander the most enjoyable?

The Aubrey/Maturin series are classics. They are quite simply the best historical novels ever written.

They open a window into a world two hundred years gone - the world of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. This was a time of blood and thunder, of maritime siege, a war of long, patient endurance against a tenacious and powerful enemy.

The story follows the adventures of two heroes in this war: Captain 'Lucky' Jack Aubrey and the physician, naturalist, and secret agent Stephen Maturin.

And what adventures! O'Brian's books are filled with espionage, warfare and the stinking reek of gunpowder. They are also full of humanity: perverse and humorous, dear and terrible, wonderfully alive.

The narration is excellent - Ric Jerrom is a revelation. He gives a supremely able and assured performance - certainly on a par with Audible's other star narrators (for instance Rupert Degas and Toby Longworth).

Start with book one today! There is not a moment to be lost!

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic and unabridged

I was so pleased, when I found, that I could get this unabridged version of Master and Commander. The story is full of humor and life. Ric Jerroms narration is spot on.

I would love to be able to buy the rest of the series in an unabridged version.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Which it was a relief!

As a massive fan of this justly famous and much loved series I was nervous of possible mortal injury to my own internal narrator from some badly formed and merely commercial attempt at an audiobook.



So I am pleased to confirm that it is Beautifully read with the characters voiced delightfully.



I hesitated for months before taking a chance on this. If you are a big Aubrey and Maturin fan then buy it now.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Please listen to the crew!!!

Loved these books for years, such detail, such knowledge, such style, such a mordant wit and most of all such fabulous and detailed yarns.
I also enjoyed the film which was (loosely) based on this and a later novel "The Far Side of the World".
Comimg to the Audible version I was a little nervous: the main characters have their own voices in my imagination after all these years, but this reading did not let me down. In fact some of the more obscure nautical passages (and for the beginner these can be a tad daunting) became clearer through Mr. Jerrom's excellent reading.
The only disappointment is that I couldn't go straight on to Post Captain, because Audible have only produced one other unabridged novel in the series.
Come on Audible, we may be a smallish crew of admirers, but we are loyal to Honest Jack and we will happily follow him and the admirable Doctor for another 19 of these excellent tales.
Brilliant.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Blissful

Prodigious fine book, with dashing good narration.

I have read all the novels but enjoyed this audiobook tremendously, O'Brian creates a world in which one cannot help but be utterly immersed. The dialogue, especially that between Aubrey and Maturin, is sheer joy. More unabridged Patrick O'Brian please.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent story very well read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is a must for anyone interested in the sea or tales of history adventure. The attention to outstanding so much so it is hard to imagine that the book was written 170 years after the events.

Have you listened to any of Ric Jerrom’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes - they are all extremely well narrated, his ability to change characters seamless is brilliant he has brought this story alive!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book indeed this series warrants savouring over days or weeks. The attention to detail sometimes requires full attention which it would be hard to do in one sitting.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A

Any additional comments?

I loved the movie with jack russel (hope i wrote the name right).
When i saw there is a book of the title i had to check it.
new to buying audio books online, but this boo is very interesting and the performence is lively. very recommended.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Deadly boring and full of racism and homophobia

This is an awful book! I thought it would improve but it’s just hour upon hour of 18th century prejudice and fighting. Save yourself and don’t download it!

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6 people found this helpful