Master and Commander

Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 1

By: Patrick O'Brian

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

Length: 16 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

This, the first in the splendid series of Jack Aubrey novels, establishes the friendship between Captain Aubrey, Royal Navy, and Stephen Maturin, ship's surgeon and intelligence agent, against the thrilling backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. Details of life aboard a man-of-war in Nelson's navy are faultlessly rendered: the conversational idiom of the officers in the ward room and the men on the lower deck, the food, the floggings, the mysteries of the wind and the rigging, and the road of broadsides as the great ships close in battle.

Don't miss the rest of the Aubrey/Maturin series.

©1984 Patrick O'Brian (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC.

Critic reviews

"The best historical novels ever written." (The New York Times Book Review)
"No writer alive can move one as O'Brian can; no one can make you laugh so loud with hilarity, whiten your knuckles with unbearable tension or choke with emotion. He is the master." (Irish Times)

Masterful and Commanding

My first introduction to Patrick O’Brian was over 40 years ago. I read each episode as soon as it was available. I admire the attention to nautical detail and of establishing the action with a “you are there” perspective. With the wind and spray on my face, I welcome all to sail along with Patrick O’Brian’s Captain Aubrey and Crew.

Narration Too slow

Weird pauses in the narration were distracting. The sorry was great, and I am off to book 2.

FANTASTIC. More than 5 Stars

This book sets the time the place the characters the action into the framework for the rest of the series. The description of the locale puts you right there. The main characters are multi dimensional and most likable the action is heart pounding. The voices are authentic and each unique To anyone interested in adventure stories I HIGHLY recommend this recording.

Narration is Unlistenable

Terrific books but the narration is comically over the top and, to me, unlistenable. Imagine "Moby Dick" read out loud by a Mike Myers character in an SNL skit.

Excellent

I felt I was on the ship sailing the high seas! Well worth listening. This is the second time in 15 years have listened.

Wow!

I had very high hopes for this, but it was even better than expected! So rich and thrilling.

Good story.

The story itself is good, but the reader... Too much breathing, swallowing and smacking of the lips

Good book so far but…

I really enjoy the story, but the narration is pretty stale and often quite hard to follow. I haven’t read the book, so maybe it’s the writing style, but often times it’s hard to understand which character is speaking. There are many conversations between to characters where it isn’t stated who is saying what. Maybe I just need to listen more closely or read the book instead. The story itself is very good though.

Magnificent Book!

There is simply no author like Patrick O’Brien. The only criticism that might be leveled his 21-volume Aubrey-Maturin opus is that it should have gone on twice as long!

Accessibility, I felt like I was living in that time.

Superlative and enjoyable. How amazing to feel present with sensory awareness of place and moment personalities and gestalt of narratives lived by seafaring folks of the sailing ships era.