The Ionian Mission

Over the course of six months, I read the entire Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O’Brien. It never got old. O’Brian cleverly tells you details of 18th-19th century British naval life by having the experienced characters, who would never need to explain this to each other, explain this to the complete nautical novice of Dr. Maturin. There is rich contrast between characters who have known each other for some time, some as intimate friends, or between members of family, and the interesting, and occasionally untrustworthy strangers they come upon, all against the grand portrait of major historical events.

Having not only an interest in history, but in science as well, it’s enjoyable to see Dr. Maturin’s frustration with old salt’s superstitions and snake oil medicine even while his own understanding of science, medicine, and natural history would be seen as archaic and primitive by our perspective.

The contrast between the sizable life-loving, highly social if occasionally clueless Jack Aubrey with his quiet, private, highly observant and often sang-froid friend is one of the best parts of this series. We get to see the best and worst of each of them, bolster and weighed down by the different best and worst of the other.

Every Patrick O’Brien novel – especially all of the Aubrey Maturin series – should be required reading for anyone who loves a great story with compelling characters, adventure, suspense and just the slightest touch of romance. Add to that that they are steeped in actual history – based on the logbooks of the RN captains who sailed in the era about which he writes – these are history lessons in the most entertaining form imaginable. Highest recommendation i could possibly give.

The majority (2/3) of _The Ionian Mission_ has Aubrey and Maturin on blockade duty in the western Mediterranean – monotonous duty at best, and in spite of O’Brian’s considerable skill at writing, it was pretty rough reading. The boredom of the duty (and of O’Brian’s telling of it) was punctuated by tantalizing opportunities for action, both at sea with Aubrey and ashore with Maturin’s espionbage, both concluding without real satisfaction. That I empathized with the crew as they struggled with the lack of action speaks directly to O’Brian’s abilities as a nautical writer.

In my four-star review, perhaps I am being a bit hard on the author, as if anything, he has been religiously consistent and brutally honest in his protryal of life in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and blockade duty was as much a part of life at the time as was outright action. O’Brian writes, “Day after day of much the same manouvers, continually lloking out; but nobody did they see, never a sail … only sea and sky.” That I was as restless and anxious for a confrontation as the crew is, to be fair, as much a part of the story as the fighting he describes.

Perseverence pays off, however, the last 1/3 of the story moves at a much quicker pace once Aubrey is given orders to the Ionian Sea. There Aubrey must act as diplomat (not a strong suit of the Captain as his other misadventures on land demonstrate), negotiating between three rival claimants, clumisly navigating the labyrinth of Ottoman politics, simultaneously attempting to avoid anything his immediate superior (who has an axe to grind with Aubrey) could possible construe as failure, the better to courtmartial him.

I absolutely continue to recommend the series – and even with four-stars for the Ionian Mission, it is a realistic and worthwhile read. Recommended.

I loved the Hornblower series … This having many similarities. But O’Brien is much richer in casts and character. Jack’s temper and flare … As well as his fumbling escapades ashore … Make him one we can all relate. Martin’s intelligence skill and humor endear him to us as well. This is my 20th reading of the series. Also … To better grasp geography, political geography and nautical terms. “A Sea of Words” and “Harbors and High Seas” is a must! GOOD HUNTING!

This is nothing against the book but to the item not being what was in the picture. We are collecting this set for the purpose of the spines matching up(when they do they create their own scene). This book is the generic version I guess and has a blank spine with just words.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member