• The Surgeon's Mate

  • Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 7
  • By: Patrick O'Brian
  • Narrated by: Patrick Tull
  • Length: 15 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,067 ratings)

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The Surgeon's Mate  By  cover art

The Surgeon's Mate

By: Patrick O'Brian
Narrated by: Patrick Tull
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Publisher's summary

Jack Aubrey, Post Captain in the British Royal Navy, is suffused with happiness. The Shannon's engagement with the U.S. Chesapeake off the New England coast has resulted in victory, just another in a long string of them for Aubrey, nicknamed Lucky Jack for his tendency to win big. But Jack is less sure-footed by land than by sea. Trying desperately to conceal from his wife Sophie the details of an untoward liaison with a lady claiming a baby, and wrestling with speculators who are trying to rob him of every farthing he ever pirated, Jack is making a poor show at civilized life.

Meanwhile, his best friend, surgeon and scientist Stephen Maturin, is enjoying unprecedented success. In possession of papers that would make Napoleon blanch, Stephen supplements his espionage activities by delivering lectures at the French Institute on such rarities as the extinct avifauna of Rodriguez, and by spending time in the company of the fiery Diana Villiers.

Don't miss the rest of the Aubrey/Maturin series.
©1980 Patrick O'Brian (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Splendid escape. Literate and amusing." (Kirkus)
"Vividly detailed 19th-century settings and dramatic tension punctuated with flashes of wry humor make O'Brian's nautical adventure a splendid treat." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Surgeon's Mate

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Spy-craft and/or spouse-craft

"The pretext: dictatorships were absurdly sensitive to the public opinion they continually outraged; they always had to be in the right, to be morally impeccable; and that was one of the reasons why those who had been much mutilated in their interrogation were rarely allowed to live, whether they had given their information or not."
- Patrick O'Brian, The Surgeon's Mate

When I was first introduced to these novels and read the first couple, I couldn't believe how GOOD the were, but was skeptical that they could continue with the same level of near perfection the early novels evoked. Now, seven books in, I'm less amazed at the continuity of output. I figure it is something like building a cathedral. If you have a master-builder, it doesn't matter if the church is 10 feet high or 1000 feet. The scale matters, but a genius will produce genius work.

I am, however, a bit more accustomed to how O'Brian pulls this off without the books seeming to sink into the trap of most serial authors. Setting. If O'Brian only told his novels at sea, there might be some inevitable boredom and repetition, but O'Brian doesn't.

For example in this book, the setting goes something like this:

Halifax (Land) => HMS Diligence (Chased from Halifax to Home) => England (Land) / Paris (Land) => HMS Ariel (Baltic Sea/Bay of Biscay) => Paris (Prison) => HMS Oedipus (English Channel).

This one has a bit more setting changes than most, but O'Brian's change of settings and occasional diversions into spy-craft and/or spouse-craft allows enough shadows and depth into these novels to keep the reader from becoming sea-blind.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Better than the movie (Master and Comander)

Listening to Patrick Tull read is such a pleasure. This series is one of the best reasons for audio books.

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11 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • DW
  • 07-04-17

Great series

Would you consider the audio edition of The Surgeon's Mate to be better than the print version?

Yes, I would. Mr. Tull does such a remarkable job in telling the story, that you cannot help but feel you are part of what is going on as a spectator. I have never heard anyone who can take something as simple as a 'flat sea' and make the description seem so real it is as if you are there.

Any additional comments?

I read this series 20 years ago and am in the process of going through the series again. It is like coming home to old friends. Heartily recommend it.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Not in a Rush

Unlike other series that I've read from other authors, I haven't put any pressure on myself to finish Aubrey/Maturin Series in a certain time frame. It may take me months to finish the series or years. Whatever the case might be, I'm enjoying myself at reading these books. I'm not in a rush to finish 14 more titles.

The Surgeon's Mate is another fine masterpiece to the series. Good crop of new characters and I can't wait to go back to these books again when I have the urge. In order to enjoy these books, there shouldn't be any deadline to finish because you are just rushing some well written literature.

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7 people found this helpful

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What a great way to enjoy these books

I've read the Aubrey-Maturin series and fell in love after the first page. Listening to them read aloud by Mr. Tull has only deepened my pleasure. He doesn't overdo his characterizations of the different characters and the droll British wit comes through as clear as a bell. Highly, highly recommended!

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6 people found this helpful

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Another great book that doesn't require 15 words.

Outstanding story, this one with an unexpectedly good ending. Enjoyed it immensely. Bravo, pip pip cheerio and all that rot!

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Surgeon's mate

Excellent yarn. Totally absorbed in the entire series to date. Cannot seem to stop or take a break. Look forward to every opportunity to listen to the next chapter!

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Best series

The Surgeon's Mate has great characters, high adventure, natural studies, history & romance. This is my second read of the series and it's just as good this time. It is so rich in detail that I catch things I didn't fully appreciate the first read. I'll regret when I finish all the books the second time. I highly recommend it.

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3 people found this helpful

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Another hit

While not Obrians strongest book it is still head and shoulders above most historical fiction. Patrick Tull is THE voice of Maturin/Aubrey

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3 people found this helpful

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My favorite series.

This is my all-time favorite series. I have listen to them all on CD and I'm now listening to them all again on Audible. If you are going to get this you must get them with Patrick tall as the narrator.

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2 people found this helpful