book data
1,444 ratings,
4.25
average rating, 73 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
August 1st 2008
by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
(first published 1977)
details
Unknown Binding
characters
isbn
0007297513
(isbn13: 9780007297511)
description
Ashore without a command--and on half-pay to boot--Jack Aubrey's prayers are answered when Stephen Maturin shows up with a secret mission for him. The…more
find at:
Amazon • WorldCat • more options…
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1,781)
All ratings
|
5 stars (610)
|
4 stars (606)
|
3 stars (209)
|
2 stars (18)
|
1 star (1)
|
avg 4.25
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in December, 2004
recommended to Felicity by:
Ryan Grove
I do enter upon my rereadings of Patrick O'Brian books with an open mind. I am willing to give fewer than five stars to each book before I read it. However, at some point, sweeping down upon the blaggardly French under a great press of sail, foreboding the ruin of a tragically flawed officer, or smiling at Aubrey's sweet simplicity, it becomes impossible not to give it every star at my command.
Mauritius Command is a particularly cohesive volume, more united in purpose than most, comp...more
Mauritius Command is a particularly cohesive volume, more united in purpose than most, comp...more
Like this review?
yes
(3 people liked it)
2 comments
In previous books Mr. O'Brian has several times told us that he uses real ships and real battles for his fictional accounts. It's well known that he went to great lengths to make his stories ring with authenticity, reading the original logbooks of the vessels involved and the private papers of survivors.
In this the fourth episode of his Aubrey-Maturin series, he takes this method to the extreme - his whole book, not only one or two battles, is based on a historical campaign, makin...more
In this the fourth episode of his Aubrey-Maturin series, he takes this method to the extreme - his whole book, not only one or two battles, is based on a historical campaign, makin...more
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
1 comment
Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
Lovers of naval adventures and of historical fiction.
I continue to love the Aubrey/Maturin series. The Mauritius command excels in further character development by contrasting both Aubrey and Maturin with other captains and medical men in a small fleet commanded by Jack to take on the French. It's exciting, fast-paced, and a great read. A worthy successor to Post Captain and H.M.S. Surprise.
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
add a comment
Read in October, 2008
I have been so absorbed in these books that I keep forgetting to take time to review them in turn - aside from discussions and over-excited bouncing with mutual online friends who already know the series, that is.
I love this series so much, for all the reasons I outlined in Master & Commander - the depth and breadth of O'Brian's knowledge and research is outstanding, breathtaking and yet the level of writing mastery he shows in his portrayal of character and plot makes these books ut...more
I love this series so much, for all the reasons I outlined in Master & Commander - the depth and breadth of O'Brian's knowledge and research is outstanding, breathtaking and yet the level of writing mastery he shows in his portrayal of character and plot makes these books ut...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
I've recently discovered Patrick O'Brian--I had picked up H.M.S. Surprise at a used book store or a garage sale about three years ago and finally read it a couple weeks ago. I have a friend who describes Patrick O'Brian as "Jane Austen for boys." I've long since exhausted my first reads of all Jane Austen, so it is nice to have a score or two of new first reads. Also nice to read what may have been happening on the other side of all that crossed correspondence that drives Austen's dom...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in May, 2009
recommended to Elaine by:
male friendsrecommends it for: fans of historical fiction
This is my fourth O'Brian book and I guess I'm going to spend the summer reading all of them! The Mauritius Command follows Stephen Maturin and his friend, Captain Jack Aubrey, as they further advance their naval careers. Patrick O'Brian has done another brilliant job of recounting the life of British seaman and officers in nineteenth century conflicts. His characters, main and secondary, are maturing in a convincing way in both their professional and personal lives. This adventure finds Cap...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2009
Less focused on Aubrey and Maturin's friendship than the earlier books, and they spend long passages apart. I found the new characters interesting though, and the action was all new kinds of stuff. I actually missed my bus stop for the first time ever because I was so into reading this. Not as many terrible puns either, but still some really funny moments. And I'm looking forward to how things develop for Maturin in the next book.
I'm still not used to O'Brian's sudden endings.
...more
I'm still not used to O'Brian's sudden endings.
...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2009
I love Patrick O'Brian, and Jack Aubrey, and Stephen Maturin very much. This book just felt sort of in-between.... like a space holder with some character development and stuff. A way to move the characters from the end of HMS Surprise on to wherever they're going next. It didn't feel like a story by itself. Another problem was that I had this one on recorded book, and while the narrator was wonderful, I generally listened to it while I was doing something else, so it didn't get the undivided at...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2002
Repeated from review of Book 1
That Patrick O'Brian chose to place his characters on the sea in the not so distant past just raised the hurdle I had to leap to get to know this wonderful author.
I had never been enamored with sea stories, didn't much care for European history, and yet was wonderfully taken with this series. The sea is a major character, but history is not greatly illuminated, almost a backdrop to the specific circumstance the characters find themselves in....more
That Patrick O'Brian chose to place his characters on the sea in the not so distant past just raised the hurdle I had to leap to get to know this wonderful author.
I had never been enamored with sea stories, didn't much care for European history, and yet was wonderfully taken with this series. The sea is a major character, but history is not greatly illuminated, almost a backdrop to the specific circumstance the characters find themselves in....more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2009
At this stage in the canon O'Brian is still sticking pretty close to the historical record, and I think the book gets a bit congested and indeed hard to follow as a result. It cries out for a map. But it is still magnificent in many ways. The portrait of Clonfert, the growth of Farquhar, the clever way in which the ending is contrived to match the record and still, to some extent, satisfy, the maline insight of McAdam, all this is good. The two big set piece actions are magnificent. But I think ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Book 4 in the Aubrey/Maturin series opens with a glimpse of a domesticated Aubrey, but before long, Aubrey is placed in command of a squadron of ships whose mission is to wrest two strategic islands from the French. There is a good amount of action, as well as naval strategy and also politics behind the scenes. And as always, O'Brian's vividly portrayed characters and lively dialogue. Excellent.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
They shook hands, and having inquired tenderly after the Doctor's health and the Commodore's, Pullings said, 'I remember you was the first that ever called me Lieutenant P, sir, back in dear old Pompey. Well, now, if you chose to tip it the most uncommon civil, you could say Captain.'
'You do not tell me so? And are you indeed a captain already?'
'Not by land, sir; I am not Captain P by land. But at sea I am the captain of the Groper transport. You can see her from here...more
'You do not tell me so? And are you indeed a captain already?'
'Not by land, sir; I am not Captain P by land. But at sea I am the captain of the Groper transport. You can see her from here...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
Another great Captain Aubrey novel. I'm really enjoying this series. Excellent characters, great action, and an experience of immersion in a completely different world. I have no idea how realistic O'Brian's version of naval life in the Napoleanic Wars is, but he creates a culture, language, and lifestyle that is compelling and convincing. This is the 4th book of the series, and, as always, I have to exercise some restraint to keep from going out and starting the next one.
This is...more
This is...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2010
I really should be reviewing these properly but i find myself so intent upon getting through each book ready to devour the next that I am not taking notes! Never have I been so enamored of a book series than this one. I know that I will read all 20 or so right through and then start again at a more leisurely pace at the start and then perhaps spend time on the reviews!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Please note, this 5 star rating is based on my long ago memories of this book - I may have read it greater than 12 years ago. I recall reading and really liking it, and even kept the book to read again in the future (something I only do with good, or otherwise significant books). The memories of an old man are sometimes faulty so this could really only warrant 3.5 to 4.5 stars, instead of the 5 I gave it. Once I re-read the book I will update this rating/review to more accurately reflect my thou...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2007
I think this is my favorite of the Aubrey/Maturin books so far. Lots of action and plenty of strong personalities, but the main characters managed to not behave like idiots at any point along the way.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2010
Simply wonderful, as I have come to expect from O'Brian. This book is filled with beautiful story telling, phenomenal period-specific/technical details, splendid character development, and prodigious wit. I never cease desiring to hear more about Aubrey and Maturin, and I am never disappointed in wanting to learn more about naval life or the world in general in the early 19th century - something which I cannot say was true prior to beginning this series.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2009
The more I read these books the more I like them. There was definitely a steep learning curve for me in the first 2 books, but since then I have really enjoyed the series. O'Brian does an excellent job with developing the main characters and you really feel for them in their struggles and triumphs. Jack had more of a commanding role to take in this book and I enjoyed reading his interactions with the other commanders and his brilliant strategies for war.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
I steadily check these books on tape out of the library and they make me look forward to my commute and the times I would otherwise be alone working in the kitchen. For all love, The visions of sails out on the water and the rich details of the characters keep me very happy. I have also found compilations of the music referred to in the books and a wonderful recipe book compiled from the food described (Which it's found in me other lists, to be sure.)
Though I am still a lubber in t...more
Though I am still a lubber in t...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
to-read
(on 131 people's shelves)
historical-fiction (on 84 people's shelves)
fiction (on 56 people's shelves)
historical (on 23 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 23 people's shelves)
adventure (on 16 people's shelves)
aubrey-maturin (on 12 people's shelves)
age-of-sail (on 9 people's shelves)
nautical (on 6 people's shelves)
series (on 6 people's shelves)
More shelves...
historical-fiction (on 84 people's shelves)
fiction (on 56 people's shelves)
historical (on 23 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 23 people's shelves)
adventure (on 16 people's shelves)
aubrey-maturin (on 12 people's shelves)
age-of-sail (on 9 people's shelves)
nautical (on 6 people's shelves)
series (on 6 people's shelves)
More shelves...
groups with this book
