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)

Delightful period sea-opera

This was a great story and, I suspect, the fact that I listened to the audio version read by Patrick Tull actually significantly added to the experience!

I've always enjoyed older English historical fiction, especially the sailing/sea-faring genre and, as a child, I read all of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series which I think is what whet my appetite.

A lot of far better qualified folk than I have already addressed the content of the book so I'm not likely to add anything to the world by writing much here so I shan't beyond saying that it's a great read and you should get into it (although be aware that you're in for a 20ish book series, one that the author died before completing).

I also really want to plug the audio version read by Mr Tull, it was really amazingly well narrated. The book is written with the understated prose of the time it is set and Mr Tull reads it as written, without attempting to add anything to it, truly delightful!

Best narrator ever!

We all lost a brilliant actor when Patrick Tull died. Fortunately, his voice lives on, thanks to his Recorded Books work. I love his Pickwick Papers, for example. But his greatest work was the 20 volumes of the Patrick O'Brian series about sea captain Jack Aubrey and his friend Stephen Maturin, secret agent, scientist and seaborne landlubber. You do NOT have to love history or sea stories to savor these recordings. The O'Brian novels never captured me in hardback or paperback, but from Tull's narration of the first scene of the first book, I was in love. He brings each of the main characters to idiosyncratic life, but also dozens and dozens of lesser characters over the course of 20 books, from supercilious admirals to Killick, the grumpy, illiterate steward and Dil, an Indian child. I cannot recommend the narrated series highly enough.

One of the greatest series you could listen to

Where does Master and Commander rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Master and Commander is first in a lengthy series, often referred to as the "Aubreyad" after one of the main characters, Jack Aubrey. It's part classic novel and part swashbuckling adventure, but it also stands apart in a league of its own, as far as historical fiction goes.

There are plenty of high-seas escapades, but it's far more than an adventure series: these books have all the depth and complexity of history, lovingly told by a man who used every ounce of his talent to bring the past and its people to life. It's like Jane Austen at sea: a complex social world filled with vivid (and often utterly loveable) characters, and all done with a wit and charm unique to O'Brian.

As narrated by Patrick Tull, these books really come into their own. Even if I didn't already love the series, I would have to rank Patrick Tull as one of the greatest narrators I've ever had the pleasure to listen to. Rather like Roy Dotrice and the Game of Thrones series, Patrick Tull took on a vast fictional world and a considerable amount of text, and he did an absolutely amazing job.I've listened to these books with Patrick Tull's narration more times than I can count now, and every time I do, I find some new detail that I hadn't properly appreciated before.

What does Patrick Tull bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Patrick Tull beats the other narrator, Simon Vance. Tull is an incredibly skilful narrator, and he brings out out the full emotional richness of Patrick O'Brian's series, both the serious, moving scenes and the sly wit O'Brian flashes out when you least expect it. Patrick Tull's delivery of these is pitch-perfect: understated, but so funny you'll probably need to pause the book.

Patrick Tull also a phenomenal job with the accents and characterisation, which helps one keep track of the many characters that turn up over the course of the books.I'd also add that the books necessarily have long, detailed descriptions of ships moving into battle, which I found to drag on a bit in Simon Vance's hands.

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

Goodness, yes. That's the only possible downside of this series: once you're hooked, you're in danger of calling in sick for a month so you can finish the series undisturbed.

Any additional comments?

These books have a lot of technical nautical words, but don't let that put you off! You don't need to know it all to enjoy the series, and O'Brian uses non-sailing characters to help give the reader a leg-up. Before you know it, you'll realise that you've learned a whole new jargon by immersion!

This is the best series - there's no equal.

I've listened to all twenty (complete) books in the series twice, and I'm now on my third time through - once ever year or two. The books are extremely well written, and the reader's performance is fantastic. There are plenty of interesting characters, and lots of history, humor, and action.

I cannot wait to read them all.

If the Patrick O'Brian series is half as good as this first book. I will be hooked for the next year listening to this series. The accuracy, challenge of nautical terminology, the underlying stories, and the excitement one feels as Jack fights in a battle makes this book a must read. You'll have to stop often to search Google for some of the terms but I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. A week after finishing it, it is still a major topic of discussion between several of us who have listened to this. Patrick Tull is a killer narrator and I'm sure he makes this book come alive by his skill as a narrator. If you've ever wanted to learn about the people of 1800 and the British navy in the old days, this is the book to read.

Good... Won't read next 19 books

I enjoyed the stroy and thought it was interesting. However, I will not read the rest of the series because it is just too slowly moving and doesn't keep me wanting more.

This book series defines "page turner"

This series is truly one of the best written drama/action adventure/buddy comedies of all time. Do not start this book if you intend to do other things before you are finished.

Riveting, Dramatic, Educational

Perfect narration of the sea novels of Patrick O'Brian make this audible book one of the choice ones to get. Give it a little time if you are not used to the nautical terms. It will be well worth it.

First rate!

Fabulous; listened to the series several times.

Never go tired of it. I have recommended the series several times.

intricate historical fiction

These books are incredibly intricate and detailed historical fiction. You'll get more than your fill of antiquated language and sailing life descriptions. It was too much for me and my interest waned. The quality of the recording wasn't great either - the narration is good but there's a sort of hollow echo that annoyed me.