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Master and Commander

Aubrey-Maturin Series, Book 1

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About this listen

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 Action & Adventure Espionage Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Medical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fiction War Suspense
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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.

Unabridged at last

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O'Brian creates a compelling and wholly convincing maritime world that is absorbing and addictive. It took me a little time to get into the first book and the nautical jargon can seem overwhelming at first but I persevered and by mid point in book 1, I was completely won over. I've now listened to all of the O'Brian/Audible recordings and felt almost bereaved when I finished the last one.
Master & Commander tells how Capt. Jack Aubrey takes on his first command and meets physician Dr Stephen Maturin, laying the foundation for the next 20 volumes. Although Aubrey and Maturin are fictional, the stories are based quite closely on real events. Jack Aubrey's adventure in book 1, for example, is based on Lord Cochrane's early naval career and is so extraordinary that you might doubt its reality but for the fact that it really happened.
One of the strengths of the books is the characterization of it's leading characters and the Aubrey/Maturin relationship forms one of the great 'bromances' in modern literature. But it is the extraordinarily evocative detail that makes O'Brian's world so compelling. The detailed accounts of wind, sail and sea, the primitive state of early 19th century medicine and the enthusiasm for the natural history that is encountered on each new voyage combine to create a wholly convincing and absorbing world.
Ric Jerrom's narration is outstanding, his characterization of voice is exactly right and there are very, very few of the pronunciation errors that mar so many other works.

Magnificent and Compelling

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If you like O'Brien's books you'll love this, and if you've yet to come across them then you're in for a treat. Very nicely narrated by Jerrom. Not necessarily the best book in the series, but needless to say it's the one to start with.

Good start to the series.

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In a word fantastic. The performance by Ric Jerrom is worthy of an Oscar. The book itself is a slowstarter but so well written. Great characterisation and great charm punctuate its pages. Im sure it won't appeal to everyone, but as very much a landlubber myself I loved it.

It may be slightly slow and a bit dated...but

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I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of the series so hopefully they will be as good as this story

A good start to the series

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