Master and Commander

Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 1

By: Patrick O'Brian

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

Length: 16 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

This, the first in the splendid series of Jack Aubrey novels, establishes the friendship between Captain Aubrey, Royal Navy, and Stephen Maturin, ship's surgeon and intelligence agent, against the thrilling backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. Details of life aboard a man-of-war in Nelson's navy are faultlessly rendered: the conversational idiom of the officers in the ward room and the men on the lower deck, the food, the floggings, the mysteries of the wind and the rigging, and the road of broadsides as the great ships close in battle.

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

©1984 Patrick O'Brian (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC.

Critic reviews

"The best historical novels ever written." (The New York Times Book Review)
"No writer alive can move one as O'Brian can; no one can make you laugh so loud with hilarity, whiten your knuckles with unbearable tension or choke with emotion. He is the master." (Irish Times)

Narration Too slow

Weird pauses in the narration were distracting. The sorry was great, and I am off to book 2.

FANTASTIC. More than 5 Stars

This book sets the time the place the characters the action into the framework for the rest of the series. The description of the locale puts you right there. The main characters are multi dimensional and most likable the action is heart pounding. The voices are authentic and each unique To anyone interested in adventure stories I HIGHLY recommend this recording.

Narration is Unlistenable

Terrific books but the narration is comically over the top and, to me, unlistenable. Imagine "Moby Dick" read out loud by a Mike Myers character in an SNL skit.

Excellent

I felt I was on the ship sailing the high seas! Well worth listening. This is the second time in 15 years have listened.

Wow!

I had very high hopes for this, but it was even better than expected! So rich and thrilling.

Good story.

The story itself is good, but the reader... Too much breathing, swallowing and smacking of the lips

Good book so far but…

I really enjoy the story, but the narration is pretty stale and often quite hard to follow. I haven’t read the book, so maybe it’s the writing style, but often times it’s hard to understand which character is speaking. There are many conversations between to characters where it isn’t stated who is saying what. Maybe I just need to listen more closely or read the book instead. The story itself is very good though.

Great narration - unparalleled performance

Would you listen to Master and Commander again? Why?

I've read the book 7 times in the past 10-15 years. It is magnificent. I have listened to it read by at least three different narrators. Patrick Tull is the only one who does it justice. His performance is wonderful. His accents make a huge difference to the pleasure I get from listening to stories like this read.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Master and Commander?

It begins wonderfully - at the concert.

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

Jack and Stephen are equally well portrayed.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

you couldn't do it, though I did drive almost non-stop from Palatine Illinois to Lookout Mountain Tennessee listening to Tull read another book in the series. I stopped for gas. I ate takeout so I could keep listening.

Any additional comments?

Why has anyone else recorded it - a waste of time and space.

Leaves me wanting more by Patrick Tull

In some audiobooks the narration grates on my nerves and takes away from the story itself. Not so in this audiobook; in fact, it inhances the story itself. Narration by Patrick Tull made this book come to life for me - I could hardly stand to have it end! I prefer to read books than listen to them, Master and Commander being one huge exception.

great listen

Anyone with interest in the British Navy of the 18th century should enjoy this listen. Unless you have a strong knowledge of war ships of this time period, I recomend also picking up a paper copy of Men-Of-War, by Patrick O'Brian to help with terms, and better your understanding the book.