The Wine-Dark Sea

Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 16

By: Patrick O'Brian

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Large in body and spirit, Jack Aubrey throws his heavy frame up mainmasts as if he were a boy of ten. Tendentiously traditional, Aubrey spends his evenings with ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin, a brilliant naturalist and occasional spy for the British government. In the quiet of Aubrey’s cabin, the two work on their Corelli; after numerous voyages their friendship has mellowed into a touching, if occasionally tempestuous, marriage.

Devotees can expect a number of spectacular battle scenes, shipboard jests, and the historical mimicry for which O’Brian is so famous. Maturin’s efforts to persuade Peruvians to revolt against the Spanish crown will send him on a perilous journey across the Andes, while Aubrey will be reunited briefly with his illegitimate black son, and suffer dreadfully under the blustery politics of a Rousseauian.

This audiobook includes an exclusive afterword with the author.

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

©1993 Patrick O'Brian (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC.

Critic reviews

"So much better than the competition that comparisons long ago ceased to be relevant: [the Aubrey/Maturin books] are uniquely excellent." (The New York Times)

"Meticulously researched and heart-stoppingly vivid." (Washington Post Book World)

Hard to put it down

I really enjoy the suspense and action of these stories. The reader really makes it special.

Wow

these are the kinds of stories that stay in the back of your mind 4 days and weeks, and feel like re-union with an old friend when you pick them back up.

The Wine Dark Sea

Patrick O'Brian did a great job narrating this story. This is an interesting tale the first half deals mostly with Aubrey and sailing along with sea battles. The description of the wine dark sea, earthquakes and the volcanic explosion in the ocean was fascinating. The second half deal more with Maturin and the politics and intrigue of Peru and Chili. Then his trek along the Andean Mt's to Chili with the naturalist description. Interesting book.

Narration

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

I have heard other narrators and Patrick Tull, is the right man for this series.

Any additional comments?

Excellent as usual.

A Masterpiece

Brilliant writing. Terrific narration.

What more could you ask for?

The best of the nautical genre.

If you've gotten this far, you don't need a review

If you could sum up The Wine-Dark Sea in three words, what would they be?

Hip, hop, horray

Who was your favorite character and why?

They're always the same; Aubrey, Maturin, Bonden; having listened to all the books, they feel like friends

Have you listened to any of Patrick Tull’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Tull is beyond compare. He has all the accents down beautifully, and his voice is perfect for this seafaring classic.

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

I'd like to listen to all 20+ in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

A tour de force; I'll have more to say after the last volume.

Never disappointed

Patrick Tull is in complete mastery of all characters in the O’Brian novels. Both sexes, all ages, characters from many countries and the wide range of regional dialects as well as classes and levels of education, They are all convincing and full of life and humor.

Nobody can multiply in the 1800's

In chapter 6 of the audio book Jack asks Stephen what 12 times 6 is and he answers 92! It is the first error in 16 of these books that I have listened to! Not a bad error rate! I don't know what I will listen to when I finish the series. This is the shortest book yet and it still is hard to stop listening to. I use these to help pass the time in traffic commuting to/from work and with the limited travel going on now I don't get my 2 hours a day so I have to make up for it with the headphones on around the house.

I don't know about other readers but the movie has me seeing Russell Crow and Paul Bettany as Jack and Stephen as I listen to the books on Audible. Too bad there was no second movie.

Another great book in the Aubrey/Matchurin series.

This is another great book in the Aubrey/Matchurin series. This book has a very good storyline. On to the next book in the series.

As always great

Loved it and can't wait to start 17. I feel like I know these characters.