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calebshoemaker's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this book two weeks ago and loved it! It was a lot more technical than the previous volumes, but it was also really involved. I thought that Jack's promotion to Commodore plus the addition of his bickering captains made for a fantastic foil. Stephen was more lovable in HMS Surprise--here he was all cloak-and-dagger.
justfoxie's review
5.0
One of my favourites in the series and one in which you get to see a lot of the action via Stephen's perspective (and usefully so).
madswag27's review against another edition
Still love Jack and Stephen, but didn't love this one as much as #3. Usually I'm champing at the bit to get back to Aubrey's side of the plot, but this was the first time I wished there was more Maturin?? Also not enough time of them together, (although the scene of Stephen sketching an aardvark alone made it worth the read).
margaret_j_c's review
Honestly, my least favorite of the series so far. Stephen did not adopt a single animal more exotic than a parrot. However, lots of close historical accuracy, so, points there.
greenwoodblacksmith's review
4.0
A little slower paced than the first three in the seiries, but still a good book.
bookpossum's review
4.0
Another delightful excursion with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, this time to capture Mauritius from the French. I enjoyed the troubles Jack has as Commodore in dealing with the various Captains under his command - the trials of managing people during the Napoleonic Wars were just as difficult as they are today, especially when after all the hard work, the senior management comes in at the last minute and claims the glory of the victory.
I didn't get as much time as I would have liked with Stephen, who is my firm favourite, but no doubt that will alter in future episodes.
Excellent writing which feels historically accurate, but doesn't bog down the story with all the knowledge of naval warfare which Patrick O'Brian had clearly accumulated.
I didn't get as much time as I would have liked with Stephen, who is my firm favourite, but no doubt that will alter in future episodes.
Excellent writing which feels historically accurate, but doesn't bog down the story with all the knowledge of naval warfare which Patrick O'Brian had clearly accumulated.
andydavidsmith76's review against another edition
3.0
The Mauritius Command remains my least favorite entry from the early Patrick O'Brian novels. I didn't find it all that memorable through my first reading of the canon, and this second reading via audio book did nothing to change my mind, despite Patrick Tull's excellent narration. It's kind of a red-headed stepchild in the narrative, fitting neither into the loose trilogy of the first three books, nor into the longer arc that begins in Desolation Island.
The writing also takes a step back here. Don't get me wrong; average O'Brian is still a heck of a lot better than of lot of other writers best offerings. But I think the literary quality of The Mauritius Command is not as good when compared to the two novels that preceded it. The characters begin to flatten out here, becoming just slightly more caricatures of themselves. For instance, it's in this novel that Stephen Maturin develops his landlubberly habit of falling into the sea every time he gets in or out of a ship. It comes out of nowhere and actually contradicts developments of the first three books which show Stephen slowly becoming more comfortable at sea.
The writing also takes a step back here. Don't get me wrong; average O'Brian is still a heck of a lot better than of lot of other writers best offerings. But I think the literary quality of The Mauritius Command is not as good when compared to the two novels that preceded it. The characters begin to flatten out here, becoming just slightly more caricatures of themselves. For instance, it's in this novel that Stephen Maturin develops his landlubberly habit of falling into the sea every time he gets in or out of a ship. It comes out of nowhere and actually contradicts developments of the first three books which show Stephen slowly becoming more comfortable at sea.
booktimewithelvis's review
5.0
5 stars of course!! Wow this series just gets better and better. For over a decade my dad has been saying how wonderful it is and he is not wrong just a shame I took so long to give it a try but I'm oh so glad I've started now. Roll on book 5!