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)

Great Book!

Loved it! I used to be in the US Navy. Makes me miss my navy days.

What a contrast from life today.

Would you listen to Post Captain again? Why?

I have listened to it before. Great series.

What other book might you compare Post Captain to and why?

The entire Aubrey Maturin series. Krakatoa, The Great Influenza and other historical novels and biographies.

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

Like other good narrators he tries to bring a time to the language.

If you could take any character from Post Captain out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Captain Aubrey.

Any additional comments?

Good listen. Tough to turn it off.

It's a Long Series,

This is the 2nd of Patrick O'Brien's great series of the Captain and the Doctor. For some reason, even when I read books for the first time many years ago, Post Captain was a little long-winded. But, it does set us up for so many things to come in future novels.
We do spend a lot of laborious time on shore, when we would rather be at sea fighting a battle. Orator Patrick Tull is really quite at the top of his game, taking us to many emotions both with excitement and color. That alone may be worth this audible.
The stage is set, and it's a long series! You have to read Poat Captain to get to HMS Surprise and beyond. Enjoy.
It's Patrick O'Brien.

A solid book

If you could sum up Post Captain in three words, what would they be?

Brings Captain Aubrey and the Dr. together

What did you like best about this story?

Always rooting for Jack

What about Patrick Tull’s performance did you like?

Love his uses his voice

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

No, but love the series

Disappointing Audio

Any additional comments?

I love the Master and Commander series so very dearly, but this recording was a bit vexing. Occasionally another voice can be heard faintly in the background, although it appears to be saying the same words just a fraction later than Patrick Tull says them. I still think Patrick Tull does the best reading of these books, I was just a little put off by the phantom voice in the background!

Loved

Great reading …can’t wait for the next one. Truly a classic series of books. Thanks

Utterly engrossing.

This series makes me nostalgic for a time I have never seen. Easy to imagine a life at sea, and the writing is as beautiful as one hopes it would be.

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.

Not quite as good as the Simon Vance version.

While still a decent performance, you are better off going to Overdrive and listening to the Soman Vance performance from Blackstone audio.