Blue at the Mizzen » (Unabridged)

Patrick O'Brian's historic naval adventure novels were solely the pleasure of British readers until the late '80s; but for Americans, it's better late than never. The appearance of the author's Aubrey-Maturin series in the States, with its compelling protagonists and rich period detail from the Napoleonic Wars, earned thousands of fans including Iris Murdoch, Eudora Welty and Tom Stoppard.

The excitement of the Aubrey/Maturin series soars to new heights in this volume, as Jack, again the daring frigate commander of old, stakes all on a desperate solo night raid against the might of the Spanish viceroy in Peru.

New York Times Book Review - Amanda Foreman

...a welcome return to form. After a spell in the doldrums O'Brian has presented his readers with a shining jewel, an intricate, multifaceted work -- one of those rare novels that actually bear up under close scrutiny...