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Master and Commander Paperback – October 17, 2003

by Patrick O'Brian (Author)

921 customer reviews

Book 1 of 21 in the Aubrey & Maturin Series

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"The best sea story I have ever read."―Sir Francis Chichester

It is the dawn of the nineteenth century; Britain is at war with Napoleon's France. Jack Aubrey, a young lieutenant in Nelson's navy, is promoted to command of H.M.S. Sophie?, an old, slow brig unlikely to make his fortune. But Captain Aubrey is a brave and gifted seaman, his thirst for adventure and victory immense. With the aid of his friend Stephen Maturin, ship's surgeon and secret intelligence agent, Aubrey and his crew engage in one thrilling battle after another, their journey culminating in a stunning clash with a mighty Spanish frigate against whose guns and manpower the tiny ?Sophie? is hopelessly outmatched.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“You're in for a wonderful voyage.”
- People

“O'Brian is a novelist, pure and simple, one of the best that we have.”
- Los Angeles Times Book Review

“If there were seventeen more novels, I'd start today.”
- Donald Graham, Wall Street Journal

“Patrick O'Brian can put a spark of character into the sawdust of time.”
- Observer

“Taken as a whole, the Aubrey-Maturin novels are by a long shot the best things of their kind... they are uniquely excellent.”
- Terry Teachout, New York Times Book Review

“The best historical novels ever written.”
- Richard Snow, New York Times Book Review

“One does not get many pages into the Aubrey-Maturin sequence before falling under the spell of O'Brian's prose, which is... elegantly paced, quietly witty.”
- Katherine A. Powers, Atlantic Monthly

“If Jane Austen had written rousing sea yarns, she would have produced something very close to the prose of Patrick O'Brian.”
- Time

“A world of enchanting fictional surfaces.”
- John Bayley, New York Review of Books

About the Author

Patrick O'Brian's acclaimed Aubrey/Maturin series of historical novels has been described as "a masterpiece" (David Mamet, New York Times), "addictively readable" (Patrick T. Reardon, Chicago Tribune), and "the best historical novels ever written" (Richard Snow, New York Times Book Review), which "should have been on those lists of the greatest novels of the 20th century" (George Will).Set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, O'Brian's twenty-volume series centers on the enduring friendship between naval officer Jack Aubrey and physician (and spy) Stephen Maturin. The Far Side of the World, the tenth book in the series, was adapted into a 2003 film directed by Peter Weir and starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. The film was nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture. The books are now available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book format.In addition to the Aubrey/Maturin novels, Patrick O'Brian wrote several books including the novels Testimonies, The Golden Ocean, and The Unknown Shore, as well as biographies of Joseph Banks and Picasso. He translated many works from French into English, among them the novels and memoirs of Simone de Beauvoir, the first volume of Jean Lacouture's biography of Charles de Gaulle, and famed fugitive Henri Cherrière's memoir Papillon. O'Brian died in January 2000.

Product details

Paperback: 459 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Movie Tie-in edition (October 17, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0393325172
ISBN-13: 978-0393325171
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 921 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #905,984 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2116 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Sea Stories
- #4660 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > TV, Movie, Video Game Adaptations
- #23226 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

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I can't give a better recommendation than that

August 18, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

For my commentary on this book, I'll reference the tags that Amazon asks you to choose between for the plot, mood, pace, and characters. Patrick O'Brian's work, and 'Master and Commander' in particular, is not served well by these kinds of choices. There are surprising plot elements, and ones that are foreshadowed long in advance. There are parts of the book that are light-hearted and hopeful, and parts that are very dark. The pace is slow as a walk on the island of Mahon, and fast as the seconds on the deck of an enemy ship.

In other words, O'Brian writes life. I can't give a better recommendation than that. Nailing him down as a sea-story guy or a history guy is a mistake. He writes friendships and hatred, hope and fear, and all the reasons and ways that we suffer and rejoice in little events and big. Read it.

98 people found this helpful

Comment

ought to be clearly defined as an abridged edition

August 11, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

As others mentioned, I had previously read the printed version and was terribly disappointed in finding missing material, especially the brain surgery that exemplifies the doctor's genius. When kindle came out with an update I was so hoping that the commissions had been rectified. Unfortunately they have not. This kindle edition ought to be clearly marked as ABRIDGED. I would very much like my money back Amazon. Shame on you for your sloppy work.

69 people found this helpful

Comment

Cracking good stuff!

May 26, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is the first volume in O'Brian's wonderful series about the life and career of Jack Aubrey and his friend and companion Stephen Maturin, a surgeon and spy, who joins him on his very first command, the Sophie.

I only gave this first volume four stars because as others have mentioned it is a bit slow, in the beginning, as there are so many characters that need to be introduced, along with some background to give them context, and a lot of historical information necessary for the reader to understand the time and place in which series occurs.

Once the stage is set and the action begins it's a fast paced runaway that you won't want to put down, so bear with the introduction and then get to the fun!

It's Naval history, brought to life, by an author who's attention to detail and accuracy is unsurpassed by any and matched only by a very few. Blend that with his ability to pull you right into the story, until you will have trouble returning to reality when you put the book down, and you can't go wrong with O'Brian.

28 people found this helpful

Comment

The greatest historical fiction series written by a 20th century author

January 24, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The greatest historical fiction series ever written in the 20th century. It owes a debt to the authors of Royal Navy-based fiction that went before - but easily surpasses them all. O'Brian himself said that his secret was focusing on the lives, interests and surroundings of his characters, without enslaving them to mechanical plot devices. The opening scene alone, Port Mahon, April 1, 1800, sets the stage for one of best literary friendships of all time.

8 people found this helpful

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Master and Commander will be one of your favorites.

July 19, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

One of the best books I've ever read. This was a "guy" book, an adventure tale with battle scenes and naval strategy, yet I (a girl) found much in it to absolutely love. I look forward to enjoying some of the others in the Aubrey Maturin series.

It's an historical fiction novel, written in 1969. The setting is early 1800's seafaring, aboard an English naval sailing vessel. Life at that time and situation was unique--harder, different customs and knowledge, etc. The period dialog and humor could be quite salty but really immersed me. The book was perfect reading on Kindle, where I could highlight a historical reference and have it explained instantly, depending on proximity to wireless. Then there were the sea terms and references to parts of the ships. Again, Kindle to the rescue. Also, the reader is educated on sailing technique by experts (characters explaining to other characters.) The author really knows early 1800's without showing off.

People are still only just people. This is still only a novel about characters, and Patrick O'Brian was skillful with his characters. From page one, we get to know these characters through conversations, through private diary entries, and through dialog between lesser characters.

A great story, and well-written.

4 people found this helpful

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One of te Best series ever.

September 7, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I love all of Patrick O'Brian's books and hope someday to own them all. The movie "Master and Commander: Far Side of the World," is a combination of two of his books. This one, of course, and the book "The Far Side of the World," which comes later in the series. They all follow Captain Jack Aubrey and his friend, Stephen Maturin on their adventures during and between the two Napoleonic Wars. The movie they made is my favorite movie of all time, and considering my collections of both books and movies, that is saying something. I only wish they had made more. The casting of that movie was brilliant. Russell Crowe WAS "Lucky" Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany was perfect as his friend and physician, Stephen Maturin. I can easily recommend these books to anyone who loves the sea, the tall ships, and the men who sailed them as much as I always have. It must come from my genes. I come from a long line of sailors from Ireland on my father's side.

7 people found this helpful

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