Master & Commander by Patrick O’Brian

My first foray into O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin novels, and the aspects I enjoyed most.
Recommended if you like:
Post Captain by Patrick O’Brian
Sharpe’s Rifles by Bernard Cornwell
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser
Channels I’ve seen discuss the Aubrey-Maturin novels:
Brian ‪@BookishTexan‬
Mark ‪@BookTimewithElvis‬
Mark ‪@richardsonreads573‬
#booktube
#patrickobrian

[@scottstockert4627]

“The Lubber’s Hole” podcast is fantastic. Ian and Mike take you through all the books a chapter at a time. So much I missed or read right past is explained and explored. I became a huge fan

[@wearethenightparty]

Thanks for this! I'm really looking forward to the upcoming film series that's in pre-production. I'll struggle to replace Crowe-Bettany, we can only hope that they really get the casting right. I look forward to seeing which actresses play Sophie and Diana too.

[@StephanieJCohen]

I have heard so much about the series. I have had the first one on my TBR forever. I need to get to it now. 😊

[@Siniapina]

Found your channel yesterday through this video as I am currently reading the aubreyad and wanted to find out if anyone has shared thoughts about them. I am so happy I did! I love your analysis here, I really agree, I think the characters and their complex humanity are really what make the books work. (Plus I would love to know your thoughts on the rest of the aubreyad books at some point too! ). I immediately binged many of your other videos as well and I just have to express how much I appreciate your analysis, knowledge and enthusiasm. I have added so many books on my to be read pile and I am now a subscriber. Thank you so much for these videos!

[@ramblingraconteur1616]

Thanks for the kind words! I am not sure how I missed this, though it was at the start of our school year. I have Post Captain on my night stand to read later this autumn, and I'm looking forward to continuing with the series. I hope you are having a great start this week. Cheers, Jack

[@readingbytheriver5752]

I read the Hornblower books when I was a teen but never made a serious go of O'Brien's books. I keep looking for a bargain set of his books One of the librarians in my small town library tried to talk me out of reading the Hornblower books - "They are books for boys and I wouldn't understand the sailing references and not like them." I was told. I devoured them all summer. I loved them. They were my answer to today's fantasy series. I spent 22 years in the Navy (not one Hornblower-like adventure on my watch) and I still remember the books all these years later. I believe I just convinced myself to reread Hornblower and give O'Brien a serious go. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

It has always puzzled me that although we have excellent novels about The Napoleonic Wars and the British Navy during the colonial era but no great novel about the War Of Independence. ?? I wonder why..? There has been no shortage of great American novelists : Hawthorne / Dreisser / Twain / Melville Steinbeck....etc etc....?? And yet the subject has barely been touched..?

[@binglamb2176]

I am 13 books in and they never falter. One of the best historical fiction series ever.

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

I picked up a $1 copy of the first book but haven’t tried it yet. I, like you and even longer than you, remember seeing the books for sale - and took no interest in. But since BookTube I’ve heard good things.

[@ariannefowler455]

I enjoyed this book and, like you, I really enjoyed the humor. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I have not continued with the series but I'd like to at some point.

[@Herodollus]

Such a good read. I have yet to read the other 19 ones weirdly