H.M.S. Surprise

Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 3

By: Patrick O'Brian

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

At the opening of his third novel in an ongoing adventure series by Patrick O'Brian, Jack Aubrey is cruising off Cape Sicie when his friend Stephen Maturin (more serenely situated in Sussex) is informed of the Board's decision regarding Aubrey's prize money, taken after victorious engagement with a Spanish squadron at Cape Santa Maria. The money, five million pieces of eight, is not, as is the custom of war, to be divided among the crews of the four victorious vessels, but is to be treated as droits of the Crown of England. Five million pounds is, after all, five million pounds.

It will be a hard rub for Aubrey, who had counted on that money to clear his debts and make himself a suitable match, but no more hard than for Maturin who spends much of his free time at Mapes Court in the company of the lovely Sophia Williams, Aubrey's betrothed. How could Stephen deliver the news that would break Sophia's heart?

When Jack docks at Portsmouth, he is clapped in irons forthwith, and carried off to a sponging house for debtors. Jack knows a prisoner can rot in jail, so when Sir Joseph graciously offers him escape aboard the H.M.S. Surprise, bound for the East Indies, he makes for the only place where his unsteady virtue remains intact: the sea.

Don't miss the rest of the Aubrey/Maturin series.

©1973 Patrick O'Brian (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"O'Brian knows his history and sailing, as is evident in the rich particulars....Stretching its genre but never escaping it, the novel will impress those who enjoy swashbucklers." (Publishers Weekly)

Jack! You’ve Debauched My Sloth!

In what other series of novels could you find a line of dialogue quite like that? After 20 years, I am enjoying all over again Patrick Tull’s masterful performances of O’Brian’s incomparable novels. And rediscovering much that I had forgotten: their buoyant humor, their exact historical verisimilitude, their deft portrayal of human nature and, perhaps best of all their at-times astonishingly beautiful passages of description.

love this series

I love the series, well-written, great story, good characters, really takes you back in time

Perhaps O'Brians best.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Anyone who has not had a chance to listen to Patrick Tull's narration of what are, arguably, the best books ever written in this genre, should do so immediately.

What other book might you compare H.M.S. Surprise to and why?

They are better than Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, my second favorite series, but only just. O'Brians knowledge of the sea and his description of the various ship actions and other aspects of life in the British Navy are incomparable.

Which character – as performed by Patrick Tull – was your favorite?

Dr. Maturin stands out, but Tull does a great job with everyone.

If you could rename H.M.S. Surprise, what would you call it?

Are you kidding? Why?

Any additional comments?

I have listened to these books numerous times and continue to laugh at the interaction of characters, marvel at the degree of information about the sea and sailing they impart, and wish that Patrick O' Brian could have gone on writing forever.

Tull is wonderful!

Tull is the best! A classic must listen. Just finished the 6th time. Long live Jack and Stephen. On to Jack's first squadren command!

best writer ever

I can't get enough of O'Brians writing. I love this installment like the others. Steven's losing battles to win Diana, highlighted in this volume, are a testament to the depth of his character and O'Brian's commitment to writing humanity as it exists.

Excellent story. narrator is awesome.

Patrick Tull is a treasure. His voices for Aubrey and Maturin are perfect. The story is phenomenal. Read/listened to it 5 times, and will Def do so again in future.

O'Brian's nautical saga is sublime

I listen to these books over and over while driving, I haven't turned the radio on for years.

Jane Austin at Sea

An amazing ‘buddy tale’ that only gets better and better. Thank heaven there are 18 more!

Absolute Must Read for Fans of the Age of Sail

This series by far the nearest and dearest to my heart when considering all titles I have read in this period of history. Patrick Tull is to this day the very best narrator I have ever been privileged to listen to. He always pauses, breaths, inflects, and applies accents in the most natural and consistent way across every one of these books.
The story itself is excellently written and the characters grow in meaningful ways, both in regards to their relationships and their private persons.

10/10 must read for those who love the naval life in the age of sail.

Continues to have high sails

I really like how the characters developed and the story is not predictable. Continues to be a story worth reading!