Post Captain

Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 2

By: Patrick O'Brian

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

Length: 19 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

The Peace of Amiens has left Jack Aubrey with no ship, no enemy to pursue, and no possibility of prize money to supplement his meager income. His decision to seek refuge from his troubles, and creditors, in France proves doubly disastrous.

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

©1972 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)

A gloriously vice story, gloriously told.

These books bring you into their world as effectively as any great sci-FI or fantasy, and better than almost all other historical fiction. They’re towering achievements, each one. First time listening to them, and I started with post-captain. Fantastic performance. Highly recommended.

Wow, Authentic Adventures

O'Brian's books are always great fun and each one reveals a different aspect of his special genius for putting us onboard a British warship with ear-perfect diction and a seeming encyclopedic knowledge of history, warfare, and sailing. This tale has Aubrey and Maturin as young men on the make---in many ways. A good part of the book takes place on land and seems to nod to a less inhibited Jane Austin in its depictions of romance and rivalry. Post Commander has the O'Brian set pieces of battle and sail as well, and the melodrama is wonderfully satisfying.
The only problem I had was that his storytelling power translated less well to a listening medium than a reading medium. That's a subtle distinction. I grant they are the same words, but the book (and other books in this epic series) is so rich in language, image, and subtlety, that despite the excellent performance, still, I kept wishing I had better control of the page before me.

Huzzay times three!

O'Brian's sometimes gripping, sometimes amusing, and always scholarly prose is masterfully unveiled in the telling by narrator Patrick Tull. If Jane Austen had thought to add naval action to her famous romances, she would have foreshadowed the Aubrey-Maturin series. Huzzay times three!

Sound quality (echo)

Throughout the book, you can hear an echo of what the narrator is saying. At first I thought it was people talking in the background, then it became more pronounced. I figured it was a cheap recording studio then I saw it was recorded books and was aghast that such a reputable studio has such a bad audio mistake for their book.

Brilliantly done!

I have the series but the audio books deliver them in a whole new light.

Issues with the recording

Patrick Tull is a master. For some reason the recording has an echo. It’s very annoying.

Typical middle book

I loved the introduction of the lively and its crew. However, the rest of the book just kind of floats around rudderless.

A Wonderful Interpretation

The actor Patrick Tull who reads this novel is superb! He can speak with enthusiasm the accents of the Spanish, Scottish, Irish, French and of course the British very well. It’s entertaining and I highly recommend it.

A fair shake

My addiction to this series started as soon as I picked up "Master and Commander" on a recommendation for Leo Laporte of TWIT. Its not my usual genre, but Wow have I become hooked. Based on how much I loved the first book, I was bracing myself for a letdown based on the reviews I read here.

After just finishing "Post Captain", I have to say two things:
1) Patrick Tull is a genius - possibly the single BEST narrator I have heard given that he has such amazing command of the British, Scottish, Irish, and French accents particularly. The characters just come alive - judge for yourself.

2) Unless you're ONLY reading these books for the accounts of engagements at sea, you'll enjoy this book. Yes, they spent a little more time on land, but ultimately, the character development, depth, and dimension that we get on these folks is WELL worth it. Obrian is also so skilled at painting the intricacies of dealing in a society that is so constrained by what is "proper" that relationships all ways round become almost as difficult to navigate as a lee shore. And I was quite satisfied with some outstanding high-seas adventure - when you get to the story about the Harbor with the "Inner Road" and "Outer Road", you'll know what I'm talking about!

If you just finished Master and Commander, and you're hoping the series continues to be good, you're in for a treat! I'm ready to dive into the third book now, and I see no end in sight - these are great!

Great story

Love the ships of the line. Good story. Read well. I would recommend this book to anyone.