The Far Side of the World (Aubrey Maturin Series) - Softcover

O′brian, Patrick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0393324761 ISBN 13: 9780393324761

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Co., 2004

Synopsis

Jack Aubrey, a brilliant and fearless captain in Nelson's navy, accepts a mission to intercept a frigate intent on wreaking havoc among British whalers. As HMS Surprise and her crew draw nearer to the enemy, their journey grows perilous, and murder and a shipwreck ensue.

About this title

Review:

Captain Jack Aubrey sets sail for Cape Horn, determined to intercept an American frigate before it can wreak havoc on the British whaling trade. As always, he is accompanied by intelligence operative Stephen Maturin, and as always, Aubrey has no idea of what his companion is up to. Another impeccably written adventure, by the end of which you should be able to identify a mizzen topsail in your sleep.

Review:

A world of enchanting fictional surfaces. -- John Bayley

A world of enchanting fictional surfaces.--John Bayley

I devoured Patrick O Brian 's 20-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog. --Christopher Hitchens

O Brian 's Aubrey-Maturin volumes actually constitute a single 6,443-page novel, one that should have been on those lists of the greatest novels of the 20th century. --George Will

I fell in love with his writing straightaway, at first with Master and Commander. It wasn t primarily the Nelson and Napoleonic period, more the human relationships. And of course having characters isolated in the middle of the goddamn sea gives more scope. It s about friendship, camaraderie. Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin always remind me a bit of Mick and me. --Keith Richards"

A world of enchanting fictional surfaces. --John Bayley"

I devoured Patrick O Brian s 20-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.--Christopher Hitchens"

Gripping and vivid a whole, solidly living world for the imagination to inhabit.--A. S. Byatt"

O Brian s Aubrey-Maturin volumes actually constitute a single 6,443-page novel, one that should have been on those lists of the greatest novels of the 20th century.--George Will"

I haven t read novels [in the past ten years] except for all of the Patrick O Brian series. It was, unfortunately, like tripping on heroin. I started on those books and couldn t stop.--E. O. Wilson"

Patrick O Brian is unquestionably the Homer of the Napoleonic wars.--James Hamilton-Paterson"

It has been something of a shock to find myself an inveterate reader of girl books obsessed with Patrick O Brian s Napoleonic-era historical novels What keeps me hooked are the evolving relationships between Jack and Stephen and the women they love.--Tamar Lewin"

[O Brian s] Aubrey-Maturin series, 20 novels of the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars, is a masterpiece. It will outlive most of today s putative literary gems as Sherlock Holmes has outlived Bulwer-Lytton, as Mark Twain has outlived Charles Reade.--David Mamet"

The Aubrey-Maturin series far beyond any episodic chronicle, ebbs and flows with the timeless tide of character and the human heart.--Ken Ringle"

There is not a writer alive whose work I value over his.--Stephen Becker

These eccentric, improbably novels seem to have been written by Patrick O'Brian to please himself in the first instance, and thereafter to please those readers who may share his delight in precision of language, odd lands and colors, a humane respect for such old-fashioned sentiments as friendship and honor. Like Aubrey and Maturin playing Mozart duets beneath a Pacific moon, he works elegant variations on the tradition of the seafaring adventure story.--Thomas Flanagan

The best historical novels ever written On every page Mr. O Brian reminds us with subtle artistry of the most important of all historical lessons: that times change but people don t, that the griefs and follies and victories of the men and women who were here before us are in fact the maps of our own lives.--Richard Snow"

I haven't read novels [in the past ten years] except for all of the Patrick O'Brian series. It was, unfortunately, like tripping on heroin. I started on those books and couldn't stop.--E. O. Wilson

The best historical novels ever written... On every page Mr. O'Brian reminds us with subtle artistry of the most important of all historical lessons: that times change but people don't, that the griefs and follies and victories of the men and women who were here before us are in fact the maps of our own lives.--Richard Snow

It has been something of a shock to find myself--an inveterate reader of girl books--obsessed with Patrick O'Brian's Napoleonic-era historical novels... What keeps me hooked are the evolving relationships between Jack and Stephen and the women they love.--Tamar Lewin

I devoured Patrick O'Brian's 20-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.--Christopher Hitchens

[O'Brian's] Aubrey-Maturin series, 20 novels of the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars, is a masterpiece. It will outlive most of today's putative literary gems as Sherlock Holmes has outlived Bulwer-Lytton, as Mark Twain has outlived Charles Reade.--David Mamet

The Aubrey-Maturin series... far beyond any episodic chronicle, ebbs and flows with the timeless tide of character and the human heart.--Ken Ringle

O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin volumes actually constitute a single 6,443-page novel, one that should have been on those lists of the greatest novels of the 20th century.--George Will

Gripping and vivid... a whole, solidly living world for the imagination to inhabit.--A. S. Byatt

Patrick O'Brian is unquestionably the Homer of the Napoleonic wars.--James Hamilton-Paterson

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Co.
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0393324761
• ISBN 13: 9780393324761
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 366