# Thoughts on Patrick O'Brian's Novels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [November 15, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078 "2016-11-15T17:58:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/122 "2021-07-26T14:59:57Z")
I’ve been listening to the Simon Vance-narrated books, and he’s terrific (although all of his American characters, even the New Englanders, sound a bit like Texans). His Aubrey and Maturin are excellent, and his Preserved Killick, grumpy and exasperated, is alone worth the price of admission. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/123 "2021-07-26T15:05:58Z")
I’ve _tried_ to read _Master and Commander_ a couple of different times, but I had real trouble getting into it. I may try again sometime, but there are so many other books I want to read. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/124 "2021-07-26T15:39:59Z")
Hmmm just listened to a sample with Simon Vance reading. I think I like his narration over Tull’s whose accent makes it hard to distinguish between characters. But I’m a few chapters in with Tull and either he’s getting more out of each character or my ear has adjusted to his voice. But I can’t get the Vance borrowed as it’s on hold, better reserve book 2 in advance as it’s also on hold. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/125 "2021-07-26T15:44:47Z")
Yes, Vance is worth the wait, I’d say. He does distinct accents for all Brits. I’ve never had any difficulty telling the characters apart when he gives them voice. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/126 "2021-07-26T19:00:41Z")
I read all of O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series, and was left hungering for more. It was only then that I started on C.S. Forester’s ‘Hornblower’ series. Perhaps it was the order in which I read the two series, or the depth of the characters, or his erudition concerning all things nautical in the 19th century, but whatever the reason, I was left with the impression that O’Brian managed to eclipse his predecessor. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/127 "2021-07-26T19:06:41Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > Confession: I once went looking for Diana’s apartments in London. Good thing you didn’t find it. They may have asked you to pay the bill for all the ass’s milk she used to bathe in. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2021, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/128 "2021-07-26T19:32:41Z")
I don’t know… I like them for different reasons. Forester tells the Hornblower stories primarily through Hornblower’s eyes- we get all his self doubt, scheming, exultation, etc… as experienced by him. The Aubrey/Maturin stories are not as concerned with the internal life of the characters as the Hornblower books were. We don’t inhabit Aubrey’s head or Maturin’s head so much, but we see a better slice of what’s going on in the world of the characters. For example, I don’t recall there being much of a description of Southampton or wherever Hornblower fits out and mans his ships, but O’Brian gives us a lot of description of Port Mahon, etc… But we don’t know what’s going on in their heads to the same degree as with Hornblower IMO- we get some fantastic dialogue between them or between them and other characters to illuminate a lot of that. So I kind of look at them as fundamentally different sorts of stories set in the same basic environment. ---
**Author:** ![AZRob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/azrob/32/3003_2.png) [@AZRob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AZRob)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/129 "2021-08-15T20:08:44Z")
I’ll second this. I loved Hornblower before Aubrey/Maturin, but upon many re-readings of each, I feel the self-doubt in Hornblower could be scaled way back. It seemed overdone and for too long. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/130 "2021-08-16T02:28:36Z")
I don’t know… I’ve been reading the “Dresden Files” lately, and I’m struck by at least that similarity to Hornblower- he’s confident in his wizardly powers and in doing the right thing, but he’s often terrified of what’s going on. It’s interesting to read about a hero, or at least protagonist who’s not confident, or terrified of his enemies, or whatever. One thing to keep in mind about the Hornblower books is that they weren’t necessarily written in chronological order, so Forester’s conception of the character was probably changing as he wrote them, and in fact, he wrote the middle-late career ones first, then the early career, and then the late career ones. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/131 "2021-08-16T09:41:53Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > Then there is Captain Frederick Marryat. > > Marryat was the real thing – an actual British navy captain who saw almost continuous action at sea from 1806 to 1830, serving in the Napoleonic wars, the War of 1812, and a colonial expedition to Burma amongst others. > > But he later also became a very successful author who wrote about 30 books, and was a personal friend of Charles Dickens. > > The difference is that he actually lived through everything he wrote about. He also wrote historical fiction - _Children of the New Forest_ remained popular for years, and has adapted for TV three times, most recently in 1998. Mind you, a clued-up editor might suggest that the title _Mr Midshipman Easy_ might be open to misinterpretation these days ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/132 "2021-08-16T13:30:05Z")
> [@bump](#): > > The Aubrey/Maturin stories are not as concerned with the internal life of the characters as the Hornblower books were. We don’t inhabit Aubrey’s head or Maturin’s head so much, but we see a better slice of what’s going on in the world of the characters. For example, I don’t recall there being much of a description of Southampton or wherever Hornblower fits out and mans his ships, but O’Brian gives us a lot of description of Port Mahon, etc… But we don’t know what’s going on in their heads to the same degree as with Hornblower IMO- we get some fantastic dialogue between them or between them and other characters to illuminate a lot of that. You’re right that we don’t spend much time in Jack’s head, since he isn’t given much to introspection. But we spend an enormous amount of time in Stephen’s head - we’re constantly privy to his internal thoughts about Diana, about Jack and Sophie, his missions, Brigid, Irish Independence, etc. etc. Not to mention the letters he’s constantly writing. Which makes sense - Stephen is really the narrator/stand-in for the author. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/133 "2021-09-27T18:01:30Z")
I’ve changed my mind about Patrick Tull’s narration, I’m all in for his character portrayals. What ya take me for, a swab? GD your eyes! Lol His audio readings are unabridged so you miss nothing from the novels. His voice is distinct and memorable with a conversational flow and his Stephen is just perfect. On to the Mauritius Command! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/134 "2021-09-27T20:02:08Z")
Just finished the Vance-read audiobook of _The Commodore_ and I’m now proceeding directly to _The Yellow Admiral._ Good stuff! And it looks like an A/M prequel film is in the very early stages of development: > **[New ‘Master And Commander’ Movie In Works At 20th Century; Patrick Ness...](https://deadline.com/2021/06/20th-century-master-and-commander-patrick-ness-1234769535/)** > > EXCLUSIVE: 20th Century is looking to head back to the high seas as sources tell Deadline the studio is developing a new Master and Commander pic with A Monster Calls scribe Patrick Ness adapting t… Hollywood being Hollywood, we may never actually see it, but this is good news. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/135 "2021-09-27T22:03:56Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I recall Jack attempting to speak French; two Frenchmen stare at each other until Stephen translates. > It is apparently funny as hell if you understand French grammar. I’ve read all the books and wish I could remember which of them features this incident? Looking at _Master and Commander_ I see Jack’s confusing _putain_ and _patois_, one of my favorite moments: ‘What is Catalan?’ ‘Why, the language of Catalonia – of the islands, of the whole of the Mediterranean coast down to Alicante and beyond. Of Barcelona. Of Lerida. All the richest part of the peninsula.’ ‘You astonish me. I had no notion of it. Another language, sir? But I dare say it is much the same thing – a _putain_, as they say in French.’ ‘Oh no, nothing of the kind – not like at all. A far finer language. More learned, more literary. Much nearer the Latin. And by the by, I believe the word is _patois_, sir, if you will allow me.’ ‘_Patois_ – just so. Yet I swear the other is a word: I learnt it somewhere,’ said Jack. _putain_ = whore _patois_ = dialect [http://hmssurprise.org/aubreyisms](http://hmssurprise.org/aubreyisms) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/136 "2022-04-20T18:44:38Z")
Bumped. Just learned there was an Aubrey in the U.S. Navy. Whodathunkit? > **[Aubrey Fitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_Fitch)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Aubrey Wray Fitch (June 11, 1883 – May 22, 1978) was an admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. A naval aviator, he held important aviation-related commands both at sea and on shore from the 1920s onward. He also served as superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. > Fitch was born in Saint Ignace, Michigan, on June 11, 1883. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in the summer of 1902 and graduated on February 12, 1906. His Nav... > **[USS Aubrey Fitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Aubrey_Fitch)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG-34), the twenty-sixth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Vice-Admiral Aubrey Fitch (1883–1978), who was noted for his outstanding command work in the South Pacific during World War II. > Ordered on 23 January 1978, as a part of the FY-1978 program, Aubrey Fitch was laid down on 10 April 1981 at the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. She was launched on 17 October 1981—sponsored by Mrs... ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/137 "2022-04-28T13:51:45Z")
It’s been a number of years since I last read them. I’m getting ready to embark on a re-reading of the entire series once again. What do you think the the most humorous bits in the series are? ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/138 "2022-04-28T21:25:50Z")
An excellent project. Lots of sly humour throughout, but I do like how Stephen comes to think himself as a bit of an old hand on sailing and battle tactics and tries to explain them to landsmen while surrounded by a table full of naval officers, who just let him have at it. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/139 "2022-04-29T05:52:09Z")
Anyone read Dewey Lambdin’s naval books ?.. I picked up one years ago and it was ok but he didn’t know much about the actual sailing end of it because he had a few pages of corrections sent in by readers as an addendum in the paperback version ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/140 "2022-04-29T06:59:13Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > It’s been a number of years since I last read them. I’m getting ready to embark on a re-reading of the entire series once again. What do you think the the most humorous bits in the series are? I’m currently re-reading and enjoying them even more. As I’m more attuned to the language and the characters this time around I’m picking up far more humourous digs and barbed asides than on first reading. Hard to quote exact “jokes” of course because the humour is mostly bone-dry and comes from the situation and in the context of relationships but I smirk often and sometimes laugh out loud. Things that struck me as hilarious recently are, of course, the “debauched sloth”, when Maturin is told how honey buzzards are killed (by strangling) to which his response is “do they not resent it?”, the description of a proposed salted eagle as food as being “a most whimsical dish” and the incident where hundreds of exhausted quail use Aubrey’s ship as a temporary resting place (and the off-handed mention of Jack absently nudging them aside, shooing them off his shoulder and all the while his crew try to stuff as many in their clothing as possible) My bird-obsessed daughter doesn’t read the books but I read those last passages to her and she roared with laughter. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/141 "2022-04-29T13:33:28Z")
Offhand, one funny bit I recall was where Jack was preparing to cast judgement on someone and said (paraphrasing) _Jack was going to say papist, but remembered Stephen was there and at the last second decided to change the word to ‘hindu’ but because the ‘p’ was already formed in his mouth was obliged to say “pindoo”_ But yes, much of the humor is situationally driven. Such as the way the ship’s crew worship the ground Stephen walks on, yet recognize he’s a complete landsman and utterly incompetent where all things nautical are concerned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078.md?page=8)