You may not think you're the type to enjoy a 20-volume (almost) saga of life in the British Navy around 1812, but chances are if you try any one of these "Aubrey/Maturin" tales you'll devour the entire series with sheer delight.

O'Brian is a literary author in the best sense of that word, effortlessly sketching a huge range of human personalities and incredibly dramatic adventures, all focused around the good Captain Jack Aubrey and his subtly brilliant surgeon Stephen Maturin.

They explore the entire globe over the course of many years, always just inches from total ruin and/or death, always intimately engaged in the experiences of the world and the close community onboard.

O'Brian is probably the best historical novelist as well from the point of view of the accuracy of his research, so these novels are not just great literature, not just thrilling adventures, but even good historical edutainment.

You can start anywhere in the series with only a slight loss in supense due to spoilers, but if the first volume (Master and Commander) is available, that's clearly the best choice. (There are also two earlier 'prequels' involving different characters at a slightly earlier period, which can be read at any point.)





Recommended: Yes