• The Truelove

  • Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 15
  • By: Patrick O'Brian
  • Narrated by: Patrick Tull
  • Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,439 ratings)

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The Truelove  By  cover art

The Truelove

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

A British whaler has been captured by an ambitious chief in the Friendly Isles, and Captain Jack Aubrey is dispatched to restore order. But Jack must first contend with an escaped convict who has stowed away on the Surprise, an attractive female convict who is driving the crew to awkward courtliness and dangerous jealousies.

The fifteenth installment of Patrick O'Brian's hugely successful Aubrey/Maturin series.

Don't miss the rest of the Aubrey/Maturin series.
©1992 Patrick O'Brian (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"The best historical novels ever written." (The New York Times Book Review)

What listeners say about The Truelove

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

AKA Clarissa Oakes

“I am in favour of leaving people alone, however imperfect their polity may seem. It appears to me that you must not tell other nations how to set their house in order; nor must you compel them to be happy.”
- Patrick O'Brian, the Truelove

When originally published, O'Brian's 15th installment in his Aubrey-Maturin series was originally titled Clarissa Oakes. I'm not sure why the title was changed, but perhaps it is because the focus of this novel is less about Clarissa (Harvill) Oakes (the convict stowaway from New South Wales who marries Oakes, one of Captain Aubrey's Midshipman) than the events that surround her introduction onto the Surprise. Clarissa on the Surprise allows O'Brian to wax on a bit about sexual mores in the Navy and in England in the early 19th century. She also carries forward the series plot a bit.

It isn't the most exciting book in the series, but it is fascinating to watch the discipline aboard the Surprise deteriorate and Captain Aubrey's efforts to regain control. It is also provides O'Brian the space, with the introduction of Clarissa Oakes, to discuss sex (both gender and the act) in the early 19th century.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Declining Quality

This book seems more like filler when compared to the others. The later books in the series are not as good as those written before.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

We all seek Truelove, some find some not

If you could sum up The Truelove in three words, what would they be?

Action, Suffering, Enlightenment

What did you like best about this story?

The character of Mrs Oakes, she was a breath of fresh air to a structured world

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

I enjoy his charactors different emotions and he does a great job

Who was the most memorable character of The Truelove and why?

Liked Jimmy Ducks and the two little girls

Any additional comments?

Good book great story and look forward to the next one

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another Hit

Those familiar with this series will not be disappointed with this book and as always the characters and story are brought to life by Patrick Tull's wonderful narration.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not the best in the series

Least favorite in the series so far. Some are bound not to be as good.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Ianother book in this great series

Patrick Tull makes this book great
Patrick Tull is one of his masterpiece performances. I have read all 22 of his books (Patrick O’Brien) thing that probably. That's the thing that pushed his works over the top Wall Patrick tols narration, his way of speaking and you know who is speaking. And he doesn't miss a beat when he talks over any kind of mechanical things.

This just kept me coming back for

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Literature, wonderful.

I’ve listened to series 4 x since discovery. Fresh, funny, true to history and the best historical fiction I’ve yet read!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Captain Aubrey

Great story Makes me want to sail off to the islands. Tote that barge lift that bail😋

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another great tale!

I really quite enjoyed listening to this installation of Patrick O'Brian's The Truelove. Once again he took a beautiful nautical tale and found a new way of telling it, using points of view that we would not normally receive from other authors and using literary methods that we would not normally see from some nautical authors.

I thought it was such a fun aspect to have so much of the book displaying Captain Aubrey at his most disappointed and upset with a crew. His emotions stemming from a divide amongst his crew due to the appearance of a mystery woman than marries Oakes.

But then to have everything come together with a daring land-based military action, with the crew working together and Captain Aubrey rising from his depression and leaving the fictional islands south of Hawaii in pursuit of a new prize. I thought it was a very fitting tale and I enjoyed it all.

I will say that I was slightly disappointed with the lack of naval action, but it is not the first book that has not included much naval action and I nonetheless enjoyed the tale.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed Fan

Prior to listening to The Truelove, I listened to the prior fourteen Aubrey-Maturin novels with great enjoyment in almost every instance. Even at the very worst, they were always worth a listen. I am so glad I didn't start with this one, for I would never have listened to or read another of these generally great tales from the age of fighting sail. It's really hard to understand how this novel is supposed to fit into O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin lexicon. It has no sea battles and only one somewhat purposeless bit of land warfare. Most of the prose is spent in discussing the antics of an escaped murdereress, who stows away on the Surprise and spends her time attempting to seduce the crew, disrupting their performance in the process. At least Mr. Tull gave his usual marvelous performance.

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