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Post Captain (Aubrey-Maturin series, Book 2)(Library Edition) Audio CD – Audiobook, February 1, 2004

by Patrick O'Brian (Author), Simon Vance (Reader)

4.5 4,838 ratings

Book 2 of 21: Aubrey/Maturin Novels

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[Library Edition Audiobook CD in vinyl case]

[Read by Simon Vance]

The excitement continues in Post Captain, the second installment of Patrick O'Brian's highly acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin series, following Master and Commander.

In 1803, Napoleon smashes the Peace of Amiens, and Captain Jack Aubrey, taking refuge in France from his creditors, is interned. He escapes from France, from debtor's prison, and from a possible mutiny and pursues his quarry straight into the mouth of a French-held harbor. Stephen Maturin's struggles, with himself as much as with a proud and intelligent woman, are woven into Aubrey's, straining their friendship at times to the breaking point.

Editorial Reviews

Review

''Master and Commander raised almost dangerously high expectations....Post Captain triumphantly surpasses them...a brilliant book.'' --Mary Renault

''It has been said that this series is some of the finest historical fiction of our time....Aubrey and Maturin have been described as better than Holmes and Watson, the equal of Quixote and Panza....All this is true. And the marvel is, it hardly says enough.'' --Los Angeles Times

''They're funny, they're exciting, they're informative. There are legions of us who gladly ship out time and time again under Captain Aubrey.'' --New Yorker

''Earphones Awards winner [audiobook narrator] Simon Vance juggles multiple characters, accents, and dramatic and comedic scenes with aplomb . . . Vance's warm, welcoming voice captures colorful characters, entertaining relationships . . . Readers in search of a handful of excellent companions with whom to spend many enjoyable hours will be hail and well met.'' --AudioFilemagazine audiobook review

They're funny, they're exciting, they're informative. There are legions of us who gladly ship out time and time again under Captain Aubrey. --New Yorker

About the Author

PATRICK O'BRIAN (1914-2000) was born Richard Patrick Russ in England. During the Second World War, he and his wife were involved in British secret-service activities. After the war, he changed his name to Patrick O'Brian and began his career as a novelist, biographer, and translator. He is the author of the acclaimed Aubrey--Maturin tales and the biographer of Joseph Banks and Picasso. In 1995 he was the first recipient of the Heywood Hill Prize for a lifetime's contribution to literature. In the same year he was awarded the CBE. In 1997 he received an honorary doctorate of letters from Trinity College, Dublin.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0786188332
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blackstone Audio, Inc.; Unabridged edition (February 1, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1415902453
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0786188338
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.03 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1.75 x 6.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #7,675,282 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #78,807 in Books on CD
- #90,387 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #285,423 in Historical Fiction (Books)

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4.5 4,838 ratings

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Patrick O'Brian

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In addition to twenty volumes in the highly respected Aubrey/Maturin series, Patrick O'Brian's many books include "Testimonies," "The Golden Ocean," and "The Unknown Shore". O'Brian also wrote acclaimed biographies of Pablo Picasso and Sir Joseph Banks and translated many works from the French, among them the novels and memoirs of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean Lacouture's biographies of Charles de Gaulle. He passed away in January 2000 at the age of 85.

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Doug B.

Book 2 of perhaps the finest series of historical sailing novels ever written

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2016

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This is the second book of my favorite historical novels.

I read the entire series a few years back and recently decided to read the first one in the series again. I enjoyed it so much that I am now working my way through the whole series.

Patrick O'Brian accomplished something here that few authors have ever managed to do. He has written not one, but 20 excellent novels containing the stories of Captain Jack Aubrey and Doctor Stephen Maturin. The novels are rich in the details of the early 19th century world in which they live, particularly the world of British sailors during the Napoleonic wars.

There is so much sailing detail and jargon that at least one companion book, A Sea of Words A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian , has been written simply to explain the nautical terms. (That book has sold over 100,000 copies. That in itself is a testament to the popularity of O'Brien's work.) Amazingly, this vast quantity of technical jargon does not interfere in the enjoyment of the work, on the contrary it somehow draws one in, adding a sense of realism. (These details are quite accurate. O'Brian spent months perusing newspapers, journals, captain's logs, and other documents from the time in the British Maritime Museum.)

The friendship between the two main characters allows for discussions that reveal what people living in these times must have thought and felt. One comes to identify with them and the myriad supporting characters (except for a few scrubs) in a way that should happen more often.

These are not especially light reading. The prose is dense and intelligent but pleasant to read. The chapters are long and sometimes the paragraphs stretch over several pages. These are stories that will take you away into a world that existed once, but has all but vanished now. You will feel the oppressive heat of being becalming in the tropics and the bracing spray at the bow as a ship races along at 10 knots, and of course the gut-wrenching experience of naval battles. Settle into a comfy chair with a pleasant drink nearby and dive into Master and Commander, the first book in the series. Please read it first. If you are anything like me you will find yourself immersed in Post Captain soon. And then you will be happy to think that there are 18 more Aubrey/Maturin stories for you to enjoy.

2 people found this helpful

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Patricia J Davis

Great Story and well written

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024

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I love Tall Ships. He wrote a whole series of wonderful books. Highly recommended!!

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MamaSylvia

Disorganized but still worth reading

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2012

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As his creditors try to arrest him, Jack is given command of the oddly-built Polychrest, but disappoints his hostile admiral by bypassing prize ships for military targets. Then he is given temporary command of the Lively while her captain sits as an M.P., and is attached to a squadron going after the Spanish treasure ships.

Interesting story, but disorganized; really 2-3 separate and only marginally related novellas rather than a coherent novel. O'Brian also leaves some loose ends unresolved; while it is just barely believable that Jack and Stephen would wind up fighting a duel, it is completely unebelievable that they would simply forget it and go back to their warm friendship. Not the best book in the series, but if you can tolerate wandering plots the naval stories are engrossing, as always.

2 people found this helpful

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Jay Grimes

Wonderful

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024

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I love this series. I like the O’Brian isn’t afraid to make his hero’s squirm and lose sometimes. He is a wonderful writer.

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lulu

Unorthodox review for a wonderful story.

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2018

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This is an unorthodox review in that I thouroughly enjoyed this book and in fact I am deep into the third volume of the series.
What is unusual is that I can’t really explain why other than it is a very strong story, strong eccentric characters and a true sense of heroic adventure. And truly, what more can one want.
I needed to adjust to Mr O’Brian’s writing style in that he moves very quickly from one conversation and scene to another without the usual clues such as a break in the page or start of a new chapter. The prose, written in an early 19th century conversational style, also required a short adjustment period for me to get into an easy reading rhythm. The story contains much technical language concerning nineteenth century sailing practices, terms, and sail configurations that are completely beyond me. However, despite my ignorance, Mr O’Brian conveys such an urgency, desperation, danger and bravery in his naval battles that I found I was holding my breath as I read.
As I said, this is an unorthodox review in that it seems to convey more negatives than positives but I do very highly recommend POST COMMANDER for its characters, story, and adventures.

19 people found this helpful

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Mrs. Polly

Patrick O'Brian Is In His Element

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2014

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My second time through the series, and what a treat to have both the audio and the text to illuminate each other -- they really do. As a confirmed terrestrial, the first go-round I let the nautical language and some other arcana that O'Brian loved to throw in just wash over me---I was in a tearing hurry, cracking on, not a minute to lose, with child to finish each book! This time, the ruminations on existence, passages of exquisite, poignant and pellucid description stand out, as they would in any novel away from the sea.

These are not just sea adventure stories, although they're amazingly good sea adventure stories. I often go to sleep while being read to, but one of the chapters in this one had me lying in bed covering my eyes, even though it was dark.

There's more land business in this novel than most of them, but I found the sharp wit, recreation of 19th Century England, and characters every bit what you'd want from a writer who loved Jane Austen but has his own genius rather than aping hers -- he owns the early 19th Century as if he were born there, without ever sounding stilted. He's in his element.

I'm trying to limit myself to buying no more than one of these a month, but it's hard. I recommend getting the book and the audio together -- much cheaper than the audio alone, and hardly more expensive than the book by itself. So, Amazon, you've just reeled me in, you scrubs. Eighteen books, and audio, to go. A nice piece of coin, but having the whole series on my Kindle is a lot cheaper than therapy or a spa membership.

8 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Mr Rob Knight

Slow to start, but gets better.

Reviewed in Germany on March 13, 2024

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If you like swashing and buckling, buy this book.
Second in the series... too much flummery ashore, but gets there eventually

Shane Byer

As described

Reviewed in Canada on March 28, 2021

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Fast delivery. Book is as described.

Clemens Schoonderwoert

A Compelling Aubrey & Maturin Sequel!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2021

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Read this book in 2007, and its the 2nd volume of the amazing "Aubrey and Maturin" series.

This tale starts off in AD 1803, and we find Captain Aubrey, RN, in France hiding from his creditors in England, and while in France he's interned.

While escaping from debtor's prison in France and from a possible mutiny he will join Maturin, who himself had to escape from certain personal struggles.

Together and their crew of able seamen, they will hunt down their quarry right into the mouth of a French-held harbour, and all after Napoleon has smashed the peace of Amiens, and thus returned to full war.

What is to follow is an adventurous and thrilling seafaring story, in which Aubrey and Maturin are getting into various problems of their own and as well as warlike problems, and each will dealt with in their own determined way, and this is brought to us in a most wonderful and authentic fashion by the author.

Highly recommended, for this is a superb addition to this brilliant series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Compelling Aubrey & Maturin Sequel"!

One person found this helpful

Pere

Too much strange naval vocabulary

Reviewed in Spain on June 14, 2021

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Too much old english and strange naval vocabulary.

vanderavert fred

Patrick O'Brian

Reviewed in France on November 28, 2018

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