Blue at the Mizzen

Blue at the Mizzen is the last full Aubrey/Maturin novel. It was published in 1999 a few months before Patrick O’Brian died January 2 in 2000. The story opens in the immediate aftermath of Britain’s victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. Aubrey/Maturin are just finishing up a successful cruise in the Mediterranean having successfully ravaged enemy shipyards and with a large prize court award waiting for them. They had been approached in the past by Sir Joseph Blaine representing British intelligence and certain parties in the government to intercede in the efforts of revolutionary groups in South America struggling against Spain. They will do so as an independent ship not part of the British navy. They refit and set out. At a stop in Africa Maturin meets an old acquaintance,whose partner has died recently as has Maturin’s long time partner. One thing leads to another and a romantic wooing ensues. Enough of giving away future treasures for first time readers,suffice it to say Blue at the Mizzen is a good read. Yes it has a slow and meandering move to anything resembling resolution, but with O’Brian as with any ocean voyage its the journey not the destination that counts. Blue at the Mizzen may not be on many short lists for best novel, but it is the culmination of perhaps the most rewarding series yet written.
Note: The partial novel The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey(published in the U.S. as 21) which picks up immediately where Blue at the Mizzen leaves off is available and what there is of it is good.

This may surprise you but over the last 20+ years I just finished my third re-reading of all of OBriens books! One time I read them when I was ill, and I found such a calming and healing affect of these books. I frequently laugh out loud; his wit and turn of language is just excellent. Im a doctor, and I must admit significant identification with the characters as developed here.

It may seem difficult that OBrien must develop sustained interest in the routine of shipboard life and maintain this over so many volumes. I expected he would just give out at some point, but Blue with the Mizzen doesnt disappoint. The subtlety of these familiar characters development has grown even further here which surprised me. I highly recommend this series and this particular book

_Blue at the Mizzen_ is a bit of a departure from the style of many of the other Aubrey-Maturin books, in that much of it is written in Maturin’s hand via letters to England. (The reasoning behind this to be explained below.) This works, giving a detail and depth to a character whose rich inner-life has largely been absent, his role as intelligence officer, physician, scientist and erstwhile companion and confidant to Aubrey overshadowing his personal proclivities.

The Napoloeonic Wars ended

The Hundred Days (Vol. Book 19) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)

Aubrey, like many RN post-captains, faces the liklihood of becoming a “yellow admiral” – a promotion to flag-officer rank without a ship or squadron to command, effectively ending one’s naval career. To forestall this, Maturin and Aubrey take _Suprise_ to Chile, ostensibly on a hydrographical voyage, in reality to help Chile win its independence from Spain. En route, O’Brian tantalizes readers with two new developments: a new midshipman, Horatio Hanson (the bastard of the Duke of Clarence, Prince William) and a budding romance between Lady Jenny Morris (the widow of Lord Morris, ambassador in Sierra Leone) and Maturin (himself a widower). It is frustrating that these plot points will not be more fully developed.

The voyage south moves at a fast clip, and the narration of _Suprise_ on station is also brief, most of the story focusing on Maturin and Hanson – some readers will be disappointed by this, I found it a refreshing departure from the detailed “watch on watch” description of daily life at sea, and allowed me to get a better sense of Maturin as an emotional being. The single naval engagement Aubrey is involved in is also summative, and which I wish more detail was given; however, it wasn’t so much a disappointment to deduct a star in my rating.

Finishing _Blue at the Mizzen_ is somewhat bitter-sweet, it being the last complete novel in the series. I look forward to

21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (Vol. Book 21) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)

, but I sense it will be ultimately unsatisfying, the mannuscript unfinished. That I won’t see how things will develop between Lady Morris and Maturin and what will happen with young Hanson is similarly disappointing. However, every voyage must end, shipmates going their separate ways, the sea-stories to be regaled and revisited at some later date – and so it is with Aubrey and Maturin. As I’ve written on most reviews of the series, I highly recommend the books: no one writes nautical fiction like O’Brian, and very few write any sub-genre of fiction like him. Having faced foul weather, stood on the quarter-deck and in the gun-room in countless engagements, and crossed the line several times, I feel a closeness to the characters O’Brian so vividly created. Its been a wonderful, wholly enjoyable experience and one that I encourage any lover of good writing to find for themselves why there is such a passionate and loyal following to these books.

Having read little else over the last 12 – 18 months other than this almost magical series of books, I fear that I shall have withdrawal symptoms once I have read the last book. What a wonderful author giving such an insight into the life and times, especially aboard ship, in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. It is, though, a pity that the Kindle dictionary is simply not up to the job of explaining or defining many of the old English words used. Again, in Kindle it is difficult when trying to learn about the various sails and their locations and then to try to look at the diagrams etc. at the ‘front’ of the book – would have been much easier in a hard copy edition! Notwithstanding the criticism of the electronic version, this whole series of books is truly outstanding and have given me much pleasure, interest and learning since I started to read Book 1. No wonder Patrick O’Brian received so many accolades, prizes and awards in recognition of his outstanding knowledge of the period and his style and writing skill. I recommend the whole series but whilst each story is stand alone, reading them in chronological order adds real value to the reading experience.

It’s a long time since I read a Patrick OBrien book. This is as good as any but oddly it seemed very mannered after so much time. There was a certain amount of look how erudite I am as well. It it still a cracking book and the result of a lot of research and a deep love for the sea and the RN. Of course the series is well worth reading.

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