Scan barcode
darwin8u's review against another edition
4.0
“Martin was a thoroughly amiable man, a man of wide reading, but when he came to write he mounted upon a pair of stilts, unusually lofty stilts, and staggered along at a most ungracious pace, with an occasional awkward lurch into colloquialism, giving a strikingly false impression of himself.”
― Patrick O'Brian, The Far Side of the World
'The Far Side of the World' is driven by a fairly simple plot. It is a chase, a hunt, a sea race from Gibraltar, down around Cape Horn into the Pacific. The Surprise has been tasked with intercepting the American frigate the Norfolk as it hunts for British whalers in the Great South Sea on the Far Side of the World. The benefit of this novel's simple plot structure is it really boils the book down to what makes the series great: O'Brian's nautical prose and the relationship between Dr. Stephen Maturin and Captain Jack Aubrey.
The relationship between Maturin and Aubrey is one that captures the unique relationship that forms between some men in battle, war, etc., that seems to almost transcend relationships of blood or the liquid link of lovers. Some of the most touching parts of this novel are those lines where Captain Aubrey recognizes how his role as captain requires him to do something that will cause distress or pain to Dr. Maturin. The affection is real. It is honest. It is mature. The amazing thing is this type of love between men almost NEVER gets exposed in modern literature or art. Again, I say almost because there are example, but the great thing about this series is O'Brian lets this relationship grow and develop and adds complexities to it that are unparalleled anywhere in literature.
I also adore how these two men explore two great models* of masculinity. Captain Aubrey (to me) represents almost a Ruler form of masculinity while Doctor Maturin represents the Explorer form. These two men, with these two very distinct FORMS and WAYS of BEING men are able to interact, cooperate, resolve conflict, etc., through their linked affection, to a world at war and a world unknown. I read these novels and I believe there is nothing that Victorian rules and the Age of Enlightenment can't accomplish.
* Borrowing a bit from Clare W. Graves here.
― Patrick O'Brian, The Far Side of the World
'The Far Side of the World' is driven by a fairly simple plot. It is a chase, a hunt, a sea race from Gibraltar, down around Cape Horn into the Pacific. The Surprise has been tasked with intercepting the American frigate the Norfolk as it hunts for British whalers in the Great South Sea on the Far Side of the World. The benefit of this novel's simple plot structure is it really boils the book down to what makes the series great: O'Brian's nautical prose and the relationship between Dr. Stephen Maturin and Captain Jack Aubrey.
The relationship between Maturin and Aubrey is one that captures the unique relationship that forms between some men in battle, war, etc., that seems to almost transcend relationships of blood or the liquid link of lovers. Some of the most touching parts of this novel are those lines where Captain Aubrey recognizes how his role as captain requires him to do something that will cause distress or pain to Dr. Maturin. The affection is real. It is honest. It is mature. The amazing thing is this type of love between men almost NEVER gets exposed in modern literature or art. Again, I say almost because there are example, but the great thing about this series is O'Brian lets this relationship grow and develop and adds complexities to it that are unparalleled anywhere in literature.
I also adore how these two men explore two great models* of masculinity. Captain Aubrey (to me) represents almost a Ruler form of masculinity while Doctor Maturin represents the Explorer form. These two men, with these two very distinct FORMS and WAYS of BEING men are able to interact, cooperate, resolve conflict, etc., through their linked affection, to a world at war and a world unknown. I read these novels and I believe there is nothing that Victorian rules and the Age of Enlightenment can't accomplish.
* Borrowing a bit from Clare W. Graves here.
phxkevin's review against another edition
4.0
This series keeps getting better. I really enjoyed many of the incidents and new situations, very creative of the author.
Even though the named after this book, the movie was very different. The movie has parts from books 2, 3 and this one, book 10.
I urge you to read the books in order.
Triggers: it's a war novel expect violence
Even though the named after this book, the movie was very different. The movie has parts from books 2, 3 and this one, book 10.
I urge you to read the books in order.
Triggers: it's a war novel expect violence
lnatal's review against another edition
3.0
4* Master and Commander (Aubrey & Maturin, #1)
4* H.M.S. Surprise (Aubrey & Maturin #3)
3* The Mauritius Command (Aubrey & Maturin #4)
3* Desolation Island (Aubrey & Maturin #5)
3* The Fortune of War (Aubrey & Maturin #6)
3* The Surgeon's Mate (Aubrey & Maturin #7)
3* The Far Side of the World (Aubrey & Maturin #10)
TR Treason's Harbour (Aubrey & Maturin #9)
4* H.M.S. Surprise (Aubrey & Maturin #3)
3* The Mauritius Command (Aubrey & Maturin #4)
3* Desolation Island (Aubrey & Maturin #5)
3* The Fortune of War (Aubrey & Maturin #6)
3* The Surgeon's Mate (Aubrey & Maturin #7)
3* The Far Side of the World (Aubrey & Maturin #10)
TR Treason's Harbour (Aubrey & Maturin #9)
bpeters65's review against another edition
5.0
A perfect picture of a moment in time when men migrated for work and how two men's rare friendship came to a tragic end.
lieslindi's review against another edition
In the almost six years since I began the series, I've been good at rationing these. Knowing that I'm halfway through is frightening.
arbieroo's review against another edition
3.0
The tenth Aubrey/Maturin novel sees O'Brian on top form, probably because the action never gets further from the sea than the top of Gibralter Rock and also because The Surprise is sailed into waters new to her, allowing novelty of description and incident.
O'Brian's unique style and depth of characterisation, along with convincing dialogue and wealth of detail are all present and mixed with a story that never gets be-calmed make this a book that easily transcends genre.
Only ten more volumes of the series to go....
O'Brian's unique style and depth of characterisation, along with convincing dialogue and wealth of detail are all present and mixed with a story that never gets be-calmed make this a book that easily transcends genre.
Only ten more volumes of the series to go....
More...