Scan barcode
lekakis's review
3.0
It was uneven and inconsistent as the sea/ocean itself. Overall not the worst of the first 4 so far but not the best either
deltatime's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bibliofeel's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
leesmyth's review
5.0
Really lovely for the relationships between Jack and Stephen and between the men and their officers; all very closely observed and very shrewd and funny at times. This bit reminded me of the movie Airplane:
‘She is making a steady nine knots,’ said Jack, coming below after quarters.
‘How happy you make me, Jack,’ said Stephen. ‘And you might make me even happier, should you so wish, by giving me a hand with this. The unreasonable attiutude, or lurch, of the ship caused me to overset the chest.’
‘God help us,’ cried Jack, gazing at the mass of gold coins lying in a deep curve along the leeward side of the cabin. ‘What is this?’
‘It is technically known as money,’ said Stephen. ‘And was you to help me pick it up, instead of leering upon it with a stunned concupiscence more worthy of Danae than a king’s officer, we might conceivably save some few pieces before they all slip through the cracks in the floor.’
‘She is making a steady nine knots,’ said Jack, coming below after quarters.
‘How happy you make me, Jack,’ said Stephen. ‘And you might make me even happier, should you so wish, by giving me a hand with this. The unreasonable attiutude, or lurch, of the ship caused me to overset the chest.’
‘God help us,’ cried Jack, gazing at the mass of gold coins lying in a deep curve along the leeward side of the cabin. ‘What is this?’
‘It is technically known as money,’ said Stephen. ‘And was you to help me pick it up, instead of leering upon it with a stunned concupiscence more worthy of Danae than a king’s officer, we might conceivably save some few pieces before they all slip through the cracks in the floor.’
fredosbrother's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kynan's review
4.0
Another fantastic story from [Mr O'Brian|5600]'s Aubrey/Maturin series! I'm lingering on reading these because I really don't want to run out of them, even though there are twenty volumes to savour.
This time around we experience the battle for Mauritius between 1809 and 1811, incredibly closely based upon the real campaign (as are most of the subjects of this series I believe). I use the term "incredibly" because the nature of this campaign, the contrast between the immense dangers and interminable boredom (suitably glossed over or enlivened for the reader with brilliant descriptions of the amazing vessels that made up the French and British naval fleets) requisite due to the vast tracts of time that travel to anywhere required when travelling by sail.
These books are so well written that you get dragged in from the opening pages and sucked along in the wake of the story constantly marveling at the way things used be. As well as the expected (and thoroughly detailed) marine elements of the story there are brief forays into the science of the time, a social commentary mostly based on the thoughts of Mr Maturin and other members of the supporting cast - it's a riveting window into the time that gave birth to the fabled English "stiff upper lip".
Enough gushing. It's a great read and I'd heartily recommend it to all!
Oh, one more thing. I read the audio version of this book narrated by Patrick Tull. Never was there a more suitable marriage of narrator and subject matter. Everything about this collaboration is perfect.
This time around we experience the battle for Mauritius between 1809 and 1811, incredibly closely based upon the real campaign (as are most of the subjects of this series I believe). I use the term "incredibly" because the nature of this campaign, the contrast between the immense dangers and interminable boredom (suitably glossed over or enlivened for the reader with brilliant descriptions of the amazing vessels that made up the French and British naval fleets) requisite due to the vast tracts of time that travel to anywhere required when travelling by sail.
These books are so well written that you get dragged in from the opening pages and sucked along in the wake of the story constantly marveling at the way things used be. As well as the expected (and thoroughly detailed) marine elements of the story there are brief forays into the science of the time, a social commentary mostly based on the thoughts of Mr Maturin and other members of the supporting cast - it's a riveting window into the time that gave birth to the fabled English "stiff upper lip".
Enough gushing. It's a great read and I'd heartily recommend it to all!
Oh, one more thing. I read the audio version of this book narrated by Patrick Tull. Never was there a more suitable marriage of narrator and subject matter. Everything about this collaboration is perfect.
fflf's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
tsharris's review
3.0
By no means my favorite book in the series thus far. Plot was formulaic, the movements of Aubrey's squadron from one island to the next - and the various set pieces - very difficult to follow.
dotorsojak's review
3.0
3.25 stars
Another quite good early entry in the Aubrey/Maturin series. There is virtually no love stuff in this one, so if you like Diana Villiers, you'll be disappointed.
There IS a lot of military maneuvering, both on land and on sea, thus useful to have a reference book or Google Maps open as you read.
If you like naval action and military history (PO tells us in the foreword that the actions described here are drawn straight from history with only the names changed), you'll like this one.
Another quite good early entry in the Aubrey/Maturin series. There is virtually no love stuff in this one, so if you like Diana Villiers, you'll be disappointed.
There IS a lot of military maneuvering, both on land and on sea, thus useful to have a reference book or Google Maps open as you read.
If you like naval action and military history (PO tells us in the foreword that the actions described here are drawn straight from history with only the names changed), you'll like this one.