• The Wine-Dark Sea

  • By: Patrick O'Brian
  • Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
  • Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (62 ratings)

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The Wine-Dark Sea  By  cover art

The Wine-Dark Sea

By: Patrick O'Brian
Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
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Publisher's Summary

At the opening of a voyage filled with disaster and delight, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin are in pursuit of a privateer sailing under American colours through the Great South Sea. Stephen's objective is to set the revolutionary tinder of South America ablaze to relieve the pressure on the British government which has blundered into war with the young and uncomfortably vigorous United States. The shock and barbarity of hand-to-hand fighting are sharpened by O'Brian's exact sense of period, his eye for landscape and his feel for a ship under sail.

©1993 The Estate of the late Patrick O'Brian CBE (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Wine-Dark Sea

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Always an enjoyable listen... great narrator

I love this series. the narrator is thebonly man for the job as far as I'm concerned... great all around

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4th book, still on same voyage.

Would you listen to The Wine-Dark Sea again? Why?

Just relistened the whole series this far, to get a better picture of the whole.

Any additional comments?

And it's still great. Best series ever, with not a hint of quality drop.

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  • kt
  • 04-28-18

Wonderful combination of story and reader

I love this series of books and have read them all more than once, and Ric Jerrom's excellent narration really enhances this one.

4 people found this helpful

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  • Mark
  • 01-22-14

Another brilliant episode

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

highly recommended, this work continues to story in the same depth and detail that makes this a stand-out piece by a legendary author

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Wine-Dark Sea?

from start to finish the pace is relentless and told with a magnificence which has me re running it so as not to lose a detail.

What does Ric Jerrom bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

flow and pronunciation is impeccable the Latin does not phase him and the characterisation makes following the story a delight

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The most compelling sea drama ever

Any additional comments?

hurry up and finish the series, please

4 people found this helpful

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  • Traintraveller
  • 06-13-17

An older Aubrey and Maturin

Not as good as some of his first books, the wine dark sea gets a bit predictable , though there is everything the we have come to expect: battles at sea, naturalising, intelligence, trips to distant lands etc.
Jerrom's interpretation adds immensely as always.

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  • ben
  • 03-16-15

More of the same

Not sure why you need a review of a book this far into the series - you either like it or you don't by now!

More romping around the oceans in the Surprise, with a fair amount of on-shore time, this time involving the doctor.

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  • Mark
  • 12-16-13

Fantastic

As always a cracking tale in the continuing saga of Aubrey / Maturin series. Now I am just waiting for the next instalment. come on Jerrom and auduble!

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  • Ian M
  • 02-19-20

The usual excellent stuff

Another welcome addition to the Aubrey-Maturin sagas, the dr’s chile trek is a bit too long maybe but other than that it’s another great book in this fantastic series, can’t wait to read the next instalment.

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  • Tom Holloway
  • 12-20-18

Wonderful.

Thrilling, thrilling, and Ric Jerrom performed his usual magic with all the parts. Lang may his lum reek...… Could have wished Maturin's voyage over the Andes was dealt with rather quicker, but interesting nevertheless.

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  • Martin
  • 03-16-15

Wine Dark Sea

A good book with lots of travel interest as well as the normal Naval content. The battle in the ice was excellent.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Nicola
  • 12-22-14

More please!

What did you like most about The Wine-Dark Sea?

As part of an epic story it works really well on its own terms. Lots of adventure and character-driven plot twists.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Stephen Maturin just gets better with age - like a good cheese

What about Ric Jerrom’s performance did you like?

It is consistent, pacy, and he sounds like he has a real empathy for the characters. I love his Killick!

Any additional comments?

Why is it that numbers 19 and 20 are now available unabridged but 17 and 18 are not? It's very frustrating - at this rate I'll have to revert to my trusty paperback editions. Wonderful, but I'll miss you Ric Jerrom!

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  • Darren
  • 07-18-14

Ric Jerrom - Has he stopped this series?

What made the experience of listening to The Wine-Dark Sea the most enjoyable?

Ric Jerrom - I have the complete series by other narrators but these are the best.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maturin - the humour is just spot on

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

Laugh, well smile alot :-)

Any additional comments?

It seems that Ric Jerrom has stopped at The Wine Dark Sea - I hope hope hope that he does the last few in the series...please please please.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 08-04-22

The Wine Dark Sea Review by S.A Fox Mulder

Another great entry into the Master and Commander series. A novel which brings to an end the great journey to the far side of the world which has covered the last 4 books and brings a complete new set of challenges to our favourite nautical heroes. 'Huzzah'!!