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)

diana villers is easy

like all charming tarts, she's the source of many problems. the narration is excellent, as always. if you liked the first 2 books, you'll like this one, as others have noted. and, i finally caved in and looked up a diagram of the sails, and other parts of a ship so i would know what the heck they were always yelling about during a battle.

A masterpiece of writing & narration.

Another masterpiece of historical fiction writing by Patrick O'Brian and a truly excellent narration by Patrick Tull. Patrick Tull really makes these books come alive with his voice acting. It's sad that both the author and narrator have since passed.

Loved It - Tull has Grown on Me

Would you consider the audio edition of H.M.S. Surprise to be better than the print version?

I have read and listened to the first two books in the series and have decided to go through the rest as audiobooks, especially as I've grown to love Patrick Tull's interpretation. But I find that the complex nautical themes to be easier to get through while listening than when reading. I may manage a better understanding through slow reading, but feel that while listening there is a smoother flow to the stories as I don't find myself as lost in concepts I barely recognize.

Have you listened to any of Patrick Tull’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Post Captain was the first book I heard read by Patrick Tull and I will readily admit that I didn't like his reading of the book. I had a hard time with his voice after listening to many other readers. But after listening to him read HMS Surprise, I look forward to going back to Master and Commander and Post Captain as his reading became a big part of my enjoyment of the book. It feels as if I am hearing the story from someone who sailed with Aubrey and Maturin. Tull obviously does a great job with voices for the two leads, but I also love how he vocalizes Diana.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book felt as if it had less ship-to-ship action than the previous two in the series, but still held my attention extremely well and kept me at the edge of my seat. In Post Captain I had a difficult time enjoying the portions with Maturin and Diana, but I was completely engrossed in Maturin's activities in India and his affections towards Diana, even more so the surrounding stories.

Third Time Around

May be the best book of my favorite series of all time. I read the series every 5 years.

O'Brian Hits His Stride

This was the first book of this series that I read, way back when, and in many ways it remains my favorite--though being dropped into book three of a series, knowing nothing of the characters and how they got to this point, would be madness with anyone less a master of exposition than O'Brian. Still, I recommend starting with volume one, because it (with volume two) sets up the whole dynamic of these two very different yet very synergistic characters. Though nothing about their personalities and skill sets suggests it, the dark, multilayered Dr. Maturin (who seems to hold the the POV reins more often as the series continues) and the bluff, sometimes unworldly Captain Aubrey (who, let's face it, doesn't need a lot of internal monologue, being a mostly man of action slogging his way through an unfortunately political world) go together like tea and crumpets, or salt beef and ship's biscuit.
The narrator, Patrick Tull, lends enough distinction to the voices to keep things clear, yet avoids distraction.
This volume burns through a lot of story--with a good balance of political intrigue at home, hazards at sea, the vagaries of naval life, the personal matters of the two leads, and, yes, a ripping good multi-ship engagement that suddenly plunges Captain Aubrey into a make-shift commodore's role.

Awesome.

Love them all. Told with a wonderful style and very entertaining. Next book in the series, if you please.

5/5 a Jewel

Have a negative review to the previous book in the series, but this one is pure gold. Excellent narration as well.

Inept narrator makes masterpiece a chore

I got this far because these three books were included in my membership, but I shall go no further. Tull’s narration, especially as Maturin, is campy and hamfisted as all hell. I was tempted to laugh when the plot revealed that Maturin was captured as a spy- speaking in such a ridiculous Irish accent, it’s no wonder at all!

Anyway, get Horatio Hornblower instead- it’s far superior.

The best of a long and entertaining series. Outcl

Performance of this volume is very well thought out and excellent. Highly recommend! Dont hesitate.

They say he was the greatest living writer !

Believe me when I say you'll enjoy every thing in this book and in this series. And Patrick Tull is such a great reader , they don't get any better than this reader writer combo....you'll not believe the research that went into these books history , geography,
Medicine, politics, what ever he writes about is excellent,,,,Paul T.