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)

Narrator Improves Upon Perfection: Brilliant!

One of my favorite authors... brought to life by the narrator's phenomenal talents. Nuanced performance. Amazing characterization. Brilliant pacing.

perfect performance

Would you consider the audio edition of Master and Commander to be better than the print version?

A favorite series of mine for years, now every time I read one of the books I will hear the characters in my head as voiced so perfectly by Patrick Tull.

Very well done! Quite so!

I loved the film, but the book is so much more detailed and the performance of the narrator makes me feel as if I was there.

Unique Style of Storytelling Makes for a Good Read

Master and Commander, book 1, Audrey O'Brien, and narrated by Patrick Tull. The story of a would be Royal Navy ship captain, Jack Aubrey, at the turn of the 19th century. It is also, the story of his ship’s medical officer or surgeon, Stephen Maturin. The first of a 20 plus book series.

Commander Aubrey is audacious and lucky. Maturin is well-read and considerate. Audrey is into battles and Maturin into saving lives. They have a natural affection for the other’s nature and Audrey’s travels and injury to humans in war provide opportunity for Maturin’s need to learn of the natural world and do surgery. They are symbiotic counter parties and good friends. They make for a good team.

There is an interesting twist to how these stories are told. The author develops encounters, that are attention getting and contemplative stories. This is true whether telling of on land interactions between peoples in the naval forces or at sea strategies and battles. These stories are a great read. The author though, has a unique style. Once an episode becomes obvious as to its result, the story never finishes but jumps to a later interaction that reveals the result of the never completed previous interaction. It works great. What a unique style.

There is a sort of negative to the read. Before Mr. O’Brien involves you in the novel, he gives you a course on the very early 1800s men of war ships, and their components. Too difficult to follow unless you sit there with a dictionary or pictionary.

Mr. Tull is not the most exciting of readers and takes some deep gasps of breath – but nevertheless does carry off the story quite nicely. Will I read on into the series? Perhaps. Not quite 1930s detective novels noir but not bad in and of itself.

Excellent Presentation

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

Right at the top.Very interesting and very well presented

Any additional comments?

The narration of this exciting story is top rate..he even makes casual conversation interesting,and brings the story to life.This is a very good book and I recommmend it to anyone that likes a good adventure

Top Notch

I like this Audible Presentation very well. Post the MainSails, Square up the Yard Arms, set the Stunt sails ! None of the terms are probably right, but good enough for a great listening.
Three Cheers for the Sofie! Hurray Hurray Hurray! And one more for Captain Aubrey! Hurray!

THIS book is the reason they made a film!

Would you listen to Master and Commander again? Why?

I have read over half of the Master and Commander series (there are 21books), and I find it a wonderful experience of not only seeing it in my mind's eye from reading it, but to experience it through the auditory senses, spectacular! I will be listening to this multiple times!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love both Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, they play soooo well together!

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

yes, but I have to work!

Great story, terrible narrator

I'm not sure if the narrator was eating dinner while reading the story, but his frequent pauses & swallowing of saliva(I hope?) were very distracting. I liked the story but am trepidatious about buying another story read by this narrator.

excellent tall ship tail

great adventure tale from the high seas, historic fun yet technically correct in details of a bye gone age

great story telling, excellent story

reader is a bit wet. word word word word wordword word word word wordword word word word wordword word word word word