H.M.S."Surprise"

View books by Patrick O'Brian.

(un)Surprisingly good - Rated
It seems strange now that when O'Brian's Napoleonic sea-faring tales were first published that they were initially compared to C S Forester's 'Hornblower' novels. Even the early books clearly had so much more to them that it now seems faintly absurd,like comparing a Ferrari with a Mondeo. The books obviously haven't changed over time, just peoples perceptions of them. I was lucky enought to find them quite early on &, for me, they seemed like a gift from the Gods & are still amongst my all-time favourite novels. HMS Surprise was the 3rd written & remains one of the very best, possibly only surpassed by The Reverse of the Medal & The Nutmeg of Consolation. The book starts in thrilling fashion with a desperate,audacious rescue (the action reminiscent of something from Dennis Wheatley's Roger Brook series) & finishes with a spectacular sea battle in the Indian Ocean. What falls in between is a heady cocktail of action & adventure, by sea & land, with a poignant episode in India & a near fatal duel & it's aftermath being amongst the more memorable. But this is so much more than just an action/adventure story because fundamental issues of life (& death) are constantly considered & dealt with, not always very wisely but by believable & fully human characters with all their attendant graces & follies. Some of the central characters are given intelligent, enquiring minds so many of the assumptions & practices of the day are questioned & challenged, sometimes literally as well as figuratively. There is also a good measure of ,mainly quiet, humour, with the occasional excrutiating pun. It all adds up to a very broad canvass & one that seems to appeal to a wide audience, even my mum eventually getting hooked on the series !
So, read this book & seek out the others, you'll surely be pleasantly 'Surprised'.

Wonderful - Rated
this is the third of the Aubrey - Maturin series and the first that really gets under the skin of the characters. The description of the storm in the South atlantic and evocation of India could not be bettered.

Becalmed in India - Rated
I have never read historical novels before these and I read the first 2 books in this series with absolute joy, within a week. I have had hints of the same pleasure in this book, however the whole India segment is dull to levels I didn't imagine the author capable of. I am assured that the books get back on form after this one. Aubrey needs to be the key central character at all times with the less attractive Maturin a close second. Sadly this is not the case in India and we are subjected to a lot of the Maturin's pontificating and waffle.

A Passage to India - Rated
This third offering from O'Brian of the Aubrey & Maturin seafaring tales is a somewhat sluggish and at times rather a monotonous addition to the series. It lacks excitement, a compelling plot and a lot of the interaction between the two that were a hallmark of the excellent predecessor, 'Post Captain'. O'Brian tries to compensate for a lack of these things by setting the tale in sunnier climes, namely the Indian Ocean, but all he succeeds in doing is bore us in exotic surroundings.

This tale carries on from the rather upbeat 'Post Captain' where Jack Aubrey, fresh from his promotion and heroics in tackling the Spanish squadron off Cadiz aboard the 'Lively' is brought heavily down to earth by the revelation that his rich pickings were 'not prize'.

Despite a daring raid to free a compromised Stephen Maturin from the hands of the French in Minorca, and an interesting and meticulously authentic description of the 'Surprise's' voyage through the 'roaring forties' and onto Bombay, this tale somehow just fails to grip. There are too many periods when nothing happens and the constant nautical jargon does somewhat start to grate, even if it is faultless in its detail and authenticity as ever.

The voyage of Jack's new command, the 'Surprise', is basically that of a transport ship, as they are detailed to convey a British envoy, the rather tragic figure of Mr Stanhope, to his new post in Kampong. Jack of course is always on the lookout for a prize, and in particular the Linois squadron rumoured to be in Indian waters. When the long awaited showdown arrives it all ends in a bit of a damp squib really, but is notable for the 'call to arms' of a large number of Indiamen (merchant ships)

The love life's of Jack and Stephen are a constant thread again in this instalment. But whereas Jack emerges from this adventure with his love life (surprisingly it must be said) relatively intact, Stephen goes through torment and even mortal danger as a result of his fatal attraction for Diana Villiers the siren who broke his heart in 'Post Captain', and who nearly destroys Stephen again.

For those snared into the world of Aubrey & Maturin by the excellent 'Master & Commander' and its worthy sequel, 'Post Captain', may well find this instalment a tad wearisome. I sailed through the first two at a fair rate of knots but found in this one I had become mentally almost totally becalmed, almost to the point of abandoning ship. However certain features remain from the previous novels, namely the unparalleled attention to detail and sheer believability of O'Brian's description of life aboard a Nelsonian frigate, for that alone it is worth giving it a go.

Start with this one - Rated
From a series of 20 novels about Aubrey and Maturin this is the one I would recommend as the first to try if you are unsure. It has the perfect balance of political intrigue, gripping action and fine conversation, tragedy and humour. The rescue in the early part of the book is particularly well done.

But be warned, O'Brian is very addictive and if this book captures your imagination then there are another 19 to keep you away from all social contact until finished!