The Letter of Marque (Aubrey Maturin Series)

"Fine stuff...[The Letter of Marque] leaves the devotee of naval fiction eager for sequels."—Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post Book WorldCaptain Jack Aubrey, a brilliant and experienced officer, has been struck off the list of post-captains for a crime he did not commit. His old friend Stephen Maturin, usually cast as a ship's surgeon to mask his discreet activities on behalf of British Intelligence, has bought for Aubrey his former ship the Surprise to command as a privateer, more politely termed a letter of marque. Together they sail on a desperate mission against the French, which, if successful, may redeem Aubrey from the private hell of his disgrace.

fine Stuff...[the Letter Of Marque] Leaves The Devotee Of Naval Fiction Eager For Sequels.—jonathan Yardley, washington Post Book World

publishers Weekly

unlike Its Competitors, Who Are Usually Linked To Major Book Publishers, Blackstone Specializes In Giving New Audio Life To Classics Using Prize-winning Readers Like Vance To Bring New And Exciting Life To Neglected Works. This Is Vance's 17th Reading Of One Of O'brian's Superb Seafaring Novels About Jack Aubrey And Dr. Stephen Maturin, And It's The First Time That Anyone Has Made New Versions Since O'brian's Death In 2000. Vance (who Also Reads Under The Names Robert Whitfield And Richard Matthews) Is Absolutely Perfect For O'brian's Sad And Stirring Tale About Post Captain Aubrey's Unjust Punishment: Aubrey Has Been Stricken Off The Admiralty's List, Usually The End Of A Man's Career. But Dr. Maturin Uses His Own Money To Buy Aubrey's Old Ship, Hms surprise, And Turn It Into A Privateer A Letter Of Marque. Vance Catches The Subtle Differences Between The Land-owning Jack, His Rough-tongued Crew And The Spanish/irish Maturin. O'brian Fans Should Relish This Excellent Audio Outing As Should Anyone With A Love Of Adventure, History, The Sea And Fine Writing. (reviews, July 6, 1990). (dec.)

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In The Letter of Marque, Jack is once again aboard his beloved Surprise but stripped of his post captaincy for a crime he did not commit. Bought by Stephen, the Surprise has become a privateer. Sailing into French waters, the two concoct a desperate mission which, if successful, may redeem Aubrey from his state of disgrace. A nighttime battle with an unusual climax, a jewel of great value and Stephen's fondness for opium make this segment of O'Brian's masterful series both original and profoundly exciting. Ever since Jack Aubrey had been dismissed from the service, ever since his name, with its now meaningless seniority, had been struck off the list of post-captains, it had seemed to him that he was living in a radically different world; everything was perfectly familiar, from the smell of seawater and tarred rigging to the gentle heave of the deck under his feet; but the essence was gone and he was a stranger. The Letter of Marque continues the saga of Jack Aubrey, brilliant yet disgraced officer, and Stephan Maturin, ship's surgeon and British intelligence operator. Together they sail on a desperate mission against the French, which, if successful, may redeem Aubrey from the private hell of his disgrace Jack Aubrey, a former sea-officer in the British Navy and still bitter about his court-martial, agrees to take command of his old ship, the Surprise, which was sold to Dr. Stephen Maturin, who obtained a letter of marque to the use the ship as a privateer When Captain Jack Aubrey is disciplined for a crime he didn't commit, his friend Maturin and he set sail on a desperate mission against the French