The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey
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| The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey | |
 First edition cover |
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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) |
| Publication date | 2004 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book (Cassette, CD) |
| Pages | 144 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-393-06025-X, (first edition, hardback) |
| Preceded by | Blue at the Mizzen |
| Followed by | None |
The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (published under the simpler title of 21 in the U.S.A) is the unfinished twenty-first novel in the series. It was published in the autumn of 2004. It comprises the partially corrected typescript of the approximately three chapters completed by O'Brian before his death in January, 2000, as well as a facsimile of the handwritten manuscript which continues beyond the end of the typescript. It is obvious that there would have to have been a lot more polishing and editing of the text to bring it to O'Brian's usual standards.
Editor's Note and Afterword:
There is an Editor's Note by Starling Lawrence and an afterword by Richard Snow, who had written an influential review of the series in the New York Times Book Review many years before.[citation needed] Snow's review has been credited with helping to popularize the series in the United States.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
The story begins with the Surprise in the Strait of Magellan, Argentina, caught up in foul weather. Hanson is the first to spot Cape Pilar at the very opening of the Strait, and soon the Surprise is moored and some trade done with the inhospitable locals for meat and vegetables. Having re-provisioned, she and Ringle sail northwards in fine weather until they enter the River Plate and moor close to the island that is the main administrative centre. A quarantine officer comes aboard, a Dr Quental, and gives the frigate a clean bill of health.
Wantage informs Maturin of a rumpus in the town: a fight between Protestant mariners from a Boston barque clash with the Catholic locals over the right of polygamy. Further signs of local resentment are present when a large scow dumps the town's filth next to the frigate and the Portuguese sailors shout abuse at the Surprises. Aubrey spots a black Legate and recognises him as his bastard son, Sam. The Most Reverend Doctor Samuel Mputa is the Papal Nuncio to the Republic of Argentina, who has recently saved the government from an open rebellion.
The South African squadron, under its Commander-in-Chief Admiral Lord Leyton, finally makes its appearance and the Surprise is brought up to a high state of perfection. Jacks makes his appearance on board HMS Suffolk and sees his rear-admiral's blue flag hoisted on the flag ship. He then has an interview with the somewhat cantekerous Admiral and is instructed to ask Stephen if two of his officers can sail on the Surprise (now a private vessel once more) back to England. As the fleet re-provisions, the Ringle is sent off under the steady and capable Lieutenant Harding, and later returns with Sophie Aubrey, Christine Wood, her brother Edward and the three children who will sail on with Jack and Stephen to South Africa. The final chapters end with an Admiral's dinner before which Stephen and Jack are introduced to Captain Miller, Leyton's nephew and Jack's neighbour at Caxley. He has the reputation of being a lady's man as well as an excellent shot - nicknamed Hair-Trigger Miller - and has being paying court to Christine Wood. The Admiral asks Aubrey if he can be taken on board with him to take up a new position in Cape Town.
[In the last few handwritten pages that follow, as the South Africa squadron makes its way to St Helena, Mrs Wood asks Stephen to prevent Randolph Miller's unwanted attentions. In doing so, Stephen also calls Miller out for naming him a liar. Miller insists on pistols but is informed it is Maturin's right, as the aggrieved party, to name the weapons and they fight with swords - a weapon Miller is unfamiliar with. The duel takes place and, after three or four thrusts, Stephen disarms Miller and demands an apology which Miller gives him.]
[edit] Characters in The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey
- Jack Aubrey - Rear-Admiral of the Blue, aboard HMS Suffolk.
- Stephen Maturin - ship's surgeon, friend to Jack and an intelligence officer.
- The Most Reverend Doctor Samuel Mputa - Papal Nuncio to the Republic of Argentina
- Sophie Aubrey - Jack's wife.
- Brigid Maturin - Stephen's daughter.
- Christine Wood - Stephen's love interest.
- Captain Randoph Miller - Army officer who courts Christine Wood.
- Admiral Lord Leyton - Commander-in-Chief South African squadron; Captain Miller's uncle.
- Lieutenant Harding - First Lieutenant on the Surprise.
- Horatio Hanson - acting master on the Surprise.
- Dr Amos Jacob - assistant-surgeon and intelligence agent
- Dr Quental - quarantine doctor
- Awkward Davies
- Preserved Killick
- Padeen Colman
- Mr Wells - midshipman on the Surprise.
- Captain Simmons - Captain of HMS Suffolk
- Edward Heatherleigh - Christine's brother and a renowned naturalist.
[edit] Ships in The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey
The British:
- HMS Suffolk - fifty-gun man-of-war
- HMS Surprise - twenty-eight gun privately-owned frigate
- HMS Ringle - a schooner
[edit] Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
[edit] Reviews
[edit] Editions
- HarperCollins; Hardback (2004) (ISBN 0007194692)
- Norton; Hardback (2004) as 21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (ISBN 0-393-06025-X)
- Recorded Books, LLC; Unabridged Audio edition narrated by Patrick Tull (ISBN 1419308939)
[edit] Sources, references, external links, quotations
[edit] Footnotes
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