The Thirteen-Gun Salute: Aubrey/Maturin (Book 13)

Some critics have referred to the Aubrey/Maturin books as one long novel united not only by their historical setting but also by the central plot element of the Aubrey/Maturin friendship. Having read these fine books over a period of several years, I decided to evaluate their cumulative integrity by reading them consecutively in order of publication over a period of a few weeks. This turned out to be a rewarding enterprise. For readers unfamiliar with these books, they describe the experiences of a Royal Navy officer and his close friend and traveling companion, a naval surgeon. The experiences cover a broad swath of the Napoleonic Wars and virtually the whole globe. Rereading all the books confirmed that O'Brian is a superb writer and that his ability to evoke the past is outstanding. O'Brian has numerous gifts as a writer. He is the master of the long, careful description, and the short, telling episode. His ability to construct ingenious but creditable plots is first-rate, probably because he based much of the action of his books on actual events. For example, some of the episodes of Jack Aubrey's career are based on the life of the famous frigate captain, Lord Cochrane. O'Brian excels also in his depiction of characters. His ability to develop psychologically creditable characters through a combination of dialogue, comments by other characters, and description is tremendous. O'Brien's interest in psychology went well beyond normal character development, some books contain excellent case studies of anxiety, depression, and mania. Reading O'Brien gives vivid view of the early 19th century. The historian Bernard Bailyn, writing of colonial America, stated once that the 18th century world was not only pre-industrial but also pre-humanitarian (paraphrase). This is true as well for the early 19th century depicted by O'Brien. The casual and invariable presence of violence, brutality, and death is a theme running through all the books. The constant threats to life are the product not only of natural forces beyond human control, particularly the weather and disease, but also of relative human indifference to suffering. There is nothing particularly romantic about the world O'Brien describes but it also a certain grim grandeur. O'Brien also shows the somewhat transitional nature of the early 19th century. The British Navy and its vessals were the apogee of what could be achieved by pre-industrial technology. This is true both of the technology itself and the social organization needed to produce and use the massive sailing vessals. Aubrey's navy is an organization reflecting its society; an order based on deference, rigid hierarchy, primitive notions of honor, favoritism, and very, very corrupt. At the same time, it was one of the largest and most effective bureaucracies in human history to that time. The nature of service exacted great penalities for failure in a particularly environment, and great success was rewarded greatl

In terms of delineation of character and pure description of the sea -- at both of which O'Brian excells -- this thirteenth novel in the series is one of his best yet. Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin are off, finally, on their quasi-diplomatic voyage to South America -- but wait! The Admiralty suddenly needs them for a mission in one of the Malayan sultanates! Jack gets his commission and seniority back, he's given the Diane (which he captured in the last book), and he takes aboard another envoy (who rates thirteen guns, hence the title). The French are in Pulo Prabang, too, in the persons of the traitors Wray and Ledward, and Maturin has his hands full, but they come to a delightfully bonechilling end under the doctor's scalpel. And then there's that uncharted reef. . . .

I have read every book in order and this was one of the best. I would suggest like all the other reviewers to read the series starting with 1 and working through it. I am a sailor myself and the sea jargon is hard and the sometimes too much but the thrust of the story more then keeps you going. I was glad in this book to see the eventual demise of Wray and Ledward, which not clearly explained, was done none the less. Also I thought that some of Stephen's observations of Fox to be an insightfull look at human character. I am anxiously waiting for book 14,15,and 16 to come but also realize that I am getting closer to the end of the series. Overall a very good series and one that will keep you interested from the first book to which ever one you happen to be on at the moment.

Let's face it, if you made it this far in the Aubrey-Maturin series, you will definitely love this one. If The Thirteen-Gun Salute is your first encounter with the series, good choice (but, actually, they are all good). For those new to the series, the first chapter serves as an excellent summary of what has already transpired, and for those returning, it's a good review, in case you forgot something. The novel contains the usual entertaining mix of espionage, naval history, human relationships, food, music and humor. As expected, The Thirteen-Gun Salute is a completely enjoyable work by a talented author. Enjoy.

The opening paragraphs by themselves are worth the price of the book in summarizing the lives of all who have sailed into uncertainties. Most of the action is political intrigue in the South Sea kingdoms and then the faithful reader is forever left with an intensely moral question about one of the main characters of this extraordinary set of tales. Please start with the 1st book of the series, "Master and Commander," in order to have the on-going subplots make sense and in order to grow with Jack and Stephen. The "13 Gun Salute" is the 13th of the series. Patrick O'Brian writes with humour, intelligence and a deep loving affinity for long gone ships and seas.