User:Kevinalewis/OBrianNovel
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| Author | Patrick O'Brian |
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| Cover Artist | Geoff Hunt |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Aubrey-Maturin series |
| Genre(s) | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Harper Collins (UK) |
| Released | 1972 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book (Cassette, CD) |
| Pages | 416 pages (first edition, hardback) & 416 pages (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0002216574, (first edition, hardback) & ISBN 0006136664 (paperback edition UK) |
| Preceded by | Master and Commander |
| Followed by | HMS Surprise |
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This book is part of the Aubrey-Maturin series
Post Captain is the 1972 historical naval novel by Patrick O'Brian. It is second in the series of stories of Captain Jack Aubrey and the naval surgeon Stephen Maturin. Jack Aubrey is a Lieutenant languishing in port without a ship, Stephen Maturin is a penniless half-Irish, half-Catalan physician and natural philosopher.
[edit] Plot introduction
In 1803, Napoleon smashes the Peace of Amiens, and Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N., is interned in France. He escapes from France, from debtor's prison, and from a possible mutiny and pursues his quarry straight into the mouth of a French-held harbor.
[edit] Plot summary
The book begins in 1802 with the conclusion of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Peace of Amiens. Commander Jack Aubrey returns to England to take up the life of a country squire, where he meets the Williams family, and their cousin Diana Villiers. Aubrey courts Sophia Williams (the eldest daughter) but is also attracted to Diana, with whom he commences an affair.
Aubrey plans to marry Sophia Williams, but his fortune is embezzled by his prize-agent and he flees the country to avoid his creditors, living with Maturin in France and Spain. He is restored to active service by the outbreak of war in 1803, and following his endeavours as commander of the unusual HMS Polychrest he is promoted to Post Captain, and given temporary command of HMS Lively while Captain Hammond is on leave.
The book ends with a fictionalized account of the capture of a Spanish treasure fleet by four British frigates in 1804; see HMS Indefatigable for an account of the incident. Other fictionalized accounts of this same incident occur in other historical novels of the period, including Hornblower and the Hotspur by C. S. Forester, and the novels of Alexander Kent.
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[edit] Characters in "Post Captain"
- Jack Aubrey - Leutenant in the Royal Navy and appointed Captain of HMS Lively.
- Stephen Maturin - ship's surgeon, friend to Jack and intelligence officer.
- Sophie Williams - Jack's love interest
- Mrs. Williams - Sophie mother
- Diana Villiers - Stephen's love interest
- Tom Pullings – master's mate in Lively
- William Mowett – master's mate in Lively
- William Babbington – midshipman in Lively
- James Dillon – first lieutenant in Lively
[edit] Ships in "Post Captain"
[edit] The British
- HMS Lively - sloop
[edit] The Spanish
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- * n.b. were real ships during the period depicted.
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[edit] Major themes
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[edit] Allusions/references to other works
Throughout the novel O'Brian makles references to other literature, one of most obvious is when he quotes from the poem "The Shipwreak" by William Falconer on page 85. [1] [2]
[edit] Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
In actual history, Captain Hammond was the captain of the Lively at the time of this incident.
[edit] Literary significance & criticism
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[edit] Reviews
- Martin Levin (1969). "Master and Commander". New York Times Book Review 14 Dec.
- ? (1969). "Master and Commander". Kirkus Review 1 Oct.
- David C. Taylor (1969). "Master and Commander". Literary Journal 15 Dec.
- ? (1970). "Master and Commander". Sunday Mirror 18 Jan.
- Benedict Nightingale (1970). "Master and Commander". Observer 18 Jan.
- Tom Pocock (1970). "Master and Commander". Evening Standard 20 Jan.
- H.J. Poole (1970). "Master and Commander". Irish Press 21 Jan.
[edit] Release details
- 1972, UK, Collins Publishers ISBN 0002216574, Pub Date ? ? 1970, hardback (First edition)
- 1972, USA, Lippincott ISBN 0006129137, Pub Date ? ? 1972, hardback
- 1975, UK, Fontana ISBN 0006136664, Pub date 1 April 1975, paperback
- 1990, USA, W. W. Norton ISBN 0393307069, Pub date ? November 1990, paperback
- 1994, USA, W. W. Norton ISBN 0393037029, Pub date ? ? 1994, hardback
- 2000, USA, Chivers, Windsor, Paragon ISBN 0754014231, Pub date 1 December 2000, hardback (large print)
- 2001, USA, Chivers, Windsor, Paragon ISBN 0754023206, Pub date 1 September 2001, paperback (large print)
- 1996, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0006499163, Pub date 7 October 1996, paperback
- 1997, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0001053302, Pub date 21 April 1997, Audio book cassette (narrated by Robert Hardy)
- 1998, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0002216574, Pub Date 27 January 1998, hardback
- 2001, USA, Recorded Books ISBN 1402502214, Pub date ? September 2001, Audio book cassette (narrated by Patrick Tull)
- 2002, UK, Soundings ISBN 1842832611, Pub date ? September 2002, Audio book CD (narrated by Stephen Thorne)
- 2004, UK, Blackstone ISBN 0786187034, Pub date ? January 2004, Audio book MP3 cassette (narrated by Robert Whitfield)
[edit] Sources, references, external links, quotations
- Richard O'Neill (2003). Patrick O'Brian's Navy: The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey's World. Running Press. ISBN 0762415401.
- Dean King (2001). A Sea of Words: Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O'Brian's Seafaring Tales. Henry Holt. ISBN 0805066152.
- Dean King (2001). Harbors and High Seas: Map Book and Geographical Guide to the Aubrey/Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian. Henry Holt. ISBN 0805066144.
- Brian Lavery (2003). Jack Aubrey Commands: An Historical Companion to the Naval World of Patrick O'Brian. Conway Maritime. ISBN 0851779468.
- Anne Chotzinoff Grossman, Lisa Grossman Thomas (2000). Lobscouse and Spotted Dog: Which Is a Gastronomic Companion to the Aubrey/Maturin Novels. W W Norton & Co Ltd. ISBN 0393320944.
- David Miller (2003). The World of Jack Aubrey: Twelve-Pounders, Frigates, Cutlasses, and Insignia of His Majesty's Royal Navy. Running Press Book Publishers. ISBN 0762416521.
- A.E. Cunningham (Editor) (1994). Patrick O'Brian: A Bibliography and Critical Appreciation. British Library Publishing Division. ISBN 0712310711.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ William Falconer (1808). The Shipwreck. Cadell and Davies.
- ^ "The Shipwreak" by William Falconer also referenced here
| Patrick O'Brian |
|---|
| Characters: Jack Aubrey | Stephen Maturin |
| Aubrey-Maturin series: Master and Commander | Post Captain | HMS Surprise | The Mauritius Command | Desolation Island | The Fortune of War | The Surgeon's Mate | The Ionian Mission | Treason's Harbour | The Far Side of the World | The Reverse of the Medal | The Letter of Marque | The Thirteen-Gun Salute | The Nutmeg of Consolation | Clarissa Oakes | The Wine-Dark Sea | The Commodore | The Yellow Admiral | The Hundred Days | Blue at the Mizzen | The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey |
| Other Novels: Caesar | Hussein | Testimonies | The Catalans | The Golden Ocean | The Unknown Shore | Richard Temple | The Rendezvous and other stories |
| Non-Fiction: Men-of-War: Life in Nelson's Navy | Picasso | Joseph Banks: A Life |
| Biographies of O'Brian: Patrick O'Brian - A life revealed | Patrick O'Brian: The Making of the Novelist | Patrick O'Brian: A Bibliography and Critical Appreciation |
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