 | By: Patrick O'Brian Binding: Paperback Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd ISBN: 0006499325 ISBN-13: 9780006499329 Released: 01 Sep 1997 RRP: Average Rating:  |
Jack receives orders to command a squadron of ships going to West Africa to harrass the slave trade, but also to lay in wait for a convoy of French ships.
As with other books in this series, it isn't the action that makes the book very good. The quality lies in the description of life on the boat, both the daily routine chores, the events & the social life among the men, & especiallly in the dialogue between Jack & Stephen. We get to know them & their family lives, their lives as navy officer & as scientist, & their friendship & the carefulness with which they live so close together despite their outward & inward differences.
O'Brian is obviously a first-class writer & uses language masterfully to convey a feeling of early 19th century to us, both in choice of words & in wording.
Despite the caption of naval novel, this is a book of dialogue & slowly unfolding life, with short bursts of fast action in between.
Below are some of the current bestsellers - click them for a price comparison and find the cheapest place to buy!
