Reviews

The Commodore by Patrick O'Brian

mordshunger's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Stephen is again the better sailor by having nothing but understanding and patience for the families left at land. While the enlisted seamen seem to expect a perfect life frozen in order just for them to drop in on every two years, he is a kind and involved presence. I relaxed just reading about him inquiring after his wife. ALL WHIPS OVERBOARD!

neilrcoulter's review against another edition

5.0

I wonder how many pots of coffee have been consumed in the Aubrey/Maturin novels by this point. Hundreds, surely. It's not possible to read these books without frequent cravings for coffee and toasted cheese.

The best thing about The Commodore is that the long round-the-world voyage of the past several volumes is finally at an end. Jack and Stephen finally return home and find out what's been happening with their families in the years they've been away. I love Sophie, and there's nothing better in this series than seeing her speaking with Naval slang; I love it whenever she says "Killick, Killick there." But for Jack and Stephen the homecoming is bittersweet. Clarissa Oakes, one of my favorite characters, inadvertently causes strife in both their domestic environments, but it ends up be not very significant or long-lived. Jack and Stephen's friendship deepens in quiet, poignant ways, and both men continue to deal with growing older and finding their ways through new responsibilities and changing interests.

'My hands have now regained the moderate ability they possessed before I was captured,' observed Maturin, 'but his have gone on to a point I never thought he could reach: his hands and his mind. I am amazed. In his own way he is the secret man of the world; but I wish his music were happier.' (73)

It's a pleasure watching these two men grow older as they move through life.

This story includes the domestic scenes near the beginning, and then a shorter mission, against slavers off the coast of Africa. It's an interesting story, though at times it verged close to the educational/public service territory, describing the conditions of the slave ships. But the differences between Jack and Stephen about the issue of slavery had been boiling up for a while, and so the opportunity for Jack to revise his opinion was natural and welcome.

This story also includes a very amusing, too-brief encounter between Stephen and fellow (and younger...and beautiful) naturalist Christine Heatherleigh. I love this exchange:

'You must certainly come tomorrow,' she said as they parted, 'and I will show you my garden and my creatures - I have a chanting goshawk and a brush-tailed porcupine! And perhaps you should like to see my bones.'

'Nothing could possibly give me greater pleasure,' said Stephen, pressing her hand. 'And perhaps we might walk by the swamp.' (252)

Little moments like that are what keep me reading book after book in this amazing series.

My reviews of the Aubrey/Maturin series:

Master and Commander

Post Captain

H.M.S. Surprise

The Mauritius Command

Desolation Island

The Fortune of War

The Surgeon's Mate

The Ionian Mission

Treason's Harbour

The Far Side of the World

The Reverse of the Medal

The Letter of Marque

The Thirteen-Gun Salute

The Nutmeg of Consolation

Clarissa Oakes

The Wine-Dark Sea

The Commodore

The Yellow Admiral

The Hundred Days

Blue at the Mizzen

21

michael5000's review against another edition

5.0

Read April 2014.

Listened 2016. Particularly fetching as the one where we meet Steven's daughter.

cauldhamer's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

ielerol's review against another edition

4.0

By book 17 in a series, you know what you want out of the series, and the only question is, does this installment deliver? The answer here is, yes. I don't love the storyline with Maturin's daughter, but...at least the narrative is firmly against trying to discipline the autism out of her?

alexsiddall's review against another edition

4.0

First read this two years ago. Enjoyed it equally, or more, on 2nd read(2013). And now on 3rd reading (2021) still rate it highly. It's the detail of the world O'Brian creates which is so compelling. Although his dialogue is often stilted, he takes us into an imagined world of 200 years ago and makes it pulse with life. His grasp of the science, technology, medicine, culture, and society of the time may not convince people with a detailed knowledge of these fields, but to the layman it's perfectly believable. As are his flawed and imperfect protagonists.

doodlebuginarug's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

mbondlamberty's review against another edition

5.0

Another fast and good read. Yes plenty of political intrigue and naval actions. For history buffs, the illustration of the limiting factor of disease to the spread of imperialism. However what really impressed me about this book is Maturin's relationship with his daughter and O'Brian's labeling of autism. Very enjoyable and thought-provoking.

siria's review against another edition

4.0

Another intensely pleasing installment, a little quieter than a lot of the novels, but still full of the same wonderful dialogue and character interaction. I will admit to sniffling just a little over the scenes between Stephen and Brigid at the beginning; my heart broke for him, as it did frequently throughout the rest of the novel, when he seemed so likely to give into depressed spirits and to drugs. Not a happy book for either of the boys, really, though I trust most of it will be resolved. How does one spell 'peccavi', Jack, indeed.

justfoxie's review against another edition

3.0

first read 12 Dec 2007