"Your favourite from The Aubrey–Maturin series?" Topic

The Aubrey–Maturin series

Master and Commander (1969)
Post Captain (1972)
HMS Surprise (1973)
The Mauritius Command (1977)
Desolation Island (1978)
The Fortune of War (1979)
The Surgeon's Mate (1980)
The Ionian Mission (1981)
Treason's Harbour (1983)
The Far Side of the World (1984)
The Reverse of the Medal (1986)
The Letter of Marque (1988)
The Thirteen-Gun Salute (1989)
The Nutmeg of Consolation (1991)
Clarissa Oakes (1992)
(The Truelove in the USA)
The Wine-Dark Sea (1993)
The Commodore (1994)
The Yellow Admiral (1996)
The Hundred Days (1998)
Blue at the Mizzen (1999)
The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (2004)

I suppose I should have made it ones's favourite five
my favourite is The Nutmeg of Consolation..for some help this might be of use..
YouTube link

Never heard of her.

Clarissa Oakes

Post Captain, with HMS Surprise a close second.

This is a VERY tough question.

I think I'd have to say that the first two books in conjunction are probably my favorites. Master and Commander's presentation of Jack & Steven initial meeting and puzzlement at each other's characters is absolutely endearing – Post Captain then shows the men develop into true friends. These two books combined are one of my favorite treatments of the development of a true and deep friendship between men – the pleasures and pitfalls of which O'Brian explores for the rest of the series . . .

- Shawn.

Probably my favorite series of books. It's hard to pick one as they all blend into one for me. "Treason's Harbor" was rather good, though.

It's hard to pick one as they all blend into one for me.

I agree. That said, I tend to prefer the first ten to the rest of the series.

I haven't read many of them, so can't really comment.

Can't recall if this was an Aubrey book, or not, but I seem to recall the title, Inshore Squadron, which would presumably mean a bit more action than normal.

It took me three tries to plow through the first one.
However, the second was hilarious. I loved it.
I'm searching used book stores for the rest, because I can't afford them new.

Since I've only read 2, I vote for Post Captain.

I like them all, too. I never thought about picking a favorite before, but I guess that could give me an excuse to reread the series.

Rick

Love them all, but they tailed off towards the end (well he was 80-odd). OK HMS Surprise if you must!

Hard choice.

The Mauritius Command by a whisker.

Having read them all, I happened to pick up an audiobook version of "Master and Commander" – narrated by an English actor named Patrick Tull. It was like rediscovering the whole series again; his narration is simply fantastic. I have now downloaded all of them to my phone, and am working my way through the whole series again. I can't recommend it highly enough, if you get a chance to try one, you won't be sorry that you did.

To answer the editor's question, I really liked Desolation Island. The chase by the Dutch 74 to the ends of the earth, and the resolution of that chase, are unforgettable to me.

Angus99
Kansas City

Mako, Inshore Squadron is one of a series with 'Richard Bolitho' as it's hero by Alexander Kent. Actually Douglas Reeman using a pseudonym.

Post Captain. Much of it is Jane Austen but from the men's point of view. With battles.

Yes, Desolation Island and the Dutch 74 is something.

The chase by the Dutch 74 to the ends of the earth, and the resolution of that chase, are unforgettable to me.

Indeed. He painted that scene so vividly that, upon seeing the "resolution" in my mind's eye, I gasped aloud and felt the immense dread one must feel when witnessing such an event. I believe I had nightmares for a few days after!

Sorry – none. I thought they were…well, I better not go there.

you better damn well not you poser…

I have to only pick one… this is really hard.

I'd probably plump for Desolation Island.

Like John, I struggled with the first two and even sold them, but seeing the film made me realised what the author was trying to achieve and I saw them with new eyes, although sadly now Aubrey and Maturin will always be Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany in my head!

I have held off reading 'The Unfinished Last Voyage' as I can't bear the idea of the series finally ending.

Which ever one I am re-reading at the moment, right now it is Desolation Island. Having said that the last one which he did not finish is not on my list, it is amazing how different it is.

William

I found Blue at the Mizzen a bit confronting..

Another vote for Desolation Island.

Desolation Island is Moby Dick from the whale's point of view(the Dutch 74 playing the part of Ahab). It is a terrific role reversal.

The first two, although the rest were good, none of the others had the same depth, in every sense, as the first two. The characters in the later ones became caricatures of themselves, I thought, altghough "a fig for your opinion!" is one of my favourite lines.

Too hard to pick one.

And John, there are these places called libraries, where they loan you a book for free. Gent by the name of Benajamin Franklin started the idea up in your neck of the woods about, oh, 250 years ago.

The Far Side of the World.

The characters are weel developed and integrated by this point, and the settings are very exotic.

Desolation Island & Mauritius Command.

I refuse to decide.

One of the greatest series of historical fiction, ever.