The "Surprise" is on a secret mission to South America, helping Chileans gain their independence. Nothing goes simply in a Patrick O'Brian novel, and the passage to Chile is fraught with delays. After arriving, Maturin needs to navigate among the various juntas vying for dominance, and he has an important meeting with General Bernardo O'Higgins in Valparaiso. There is valiant fighting at sea, with the "Surprise" and "Ringle" duking it out with the Peruvian 50-gun frigate "Esmeralda".Jack Aubrey was largely inspired by real-life fighting Captain Lord Cochrane. In this volume of the sea-fighting series, Aubrey's actions mirror in part the exploits of Cochrane, who in this time period was employed as a mercenary naval officer in the service of South American emerging nations. Cochrane had earlier been given a prison sentence for being found guilty of stock market manipulation. While Cochrane was most likely actually culpable in that case, Jack Aubrey, finding himself in the same circumstances in "The Reverse of the Medal", had been convicted after being framed of the same crime. In 1817, Cochrane took over command of Chile's navy. His capture of the "Esmeralda" in the harbor of Callao was instrumental toward the efforts of Chile and Peru to gain independence. He would command the navy of Brazil several years later. O'Brian has put Captain Jack's mercenary days behind him, and he departs this book after receiving orders from the Admiralty to command the South African squadron, where he will fly his Blue Admiral's flag from the Mizzen of his flagship.More great adventures were possible for Jack Aubrey and Steven Maturin as Jack continued with his rise through the ranks of the Royal Navy. However, this 1999 novel would be the last of Patrick O'Brian's completed books on the subject prior to his death. I had read a report that he was reluctant to write another, twenty-first novel, but he had in fact put together a basic sketch of another book which was released by the publisher in grossly unfinished form. So the series basically ends at "Blue at the Mizzen."These books aren't just superior naval adventure stories of the world of sailing ships. They are also superior examples of all of the details of living in the early nineteenth-century world of individuals as they experience romance, marriage, navigating in the world of politics with both a capital and small case "P", life at sea and personal danger from treacherous weather and from warfare. Each Patrick O'Brian book builds its own world, on a personal level to the continuing main characters, within the larger historically relevant world going on at the time. Each reader can enlist as a vicarious crew member of whatever ship Captain Aubrey is commanding at the moment. As in real life, nothing in the books' plots suggests with certainty which direction the next episode will take.In the realm of literal pictures, special notation should be directed toward the novels' superior cover art which is provided by artist Geoff Hunt. His visual images are as enjoyable to savor as the printed words between the covers.
Series Overview.I fell in love with the series from the opening scene of Master and Commander, and went on to read all 20 Aubrey-Maturin novels. The characters of Jack Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin were initialized in that opening scene, and grew through the entire series. This is the best historical fiction I have read. In the series, I learned about British, French, Dutch, and Spanish naval operations during the Napoleonic wars. I also first learned of Napoleon's command and espionage structure and methods. Moreover, I gained insight into the structure of English society and government at all social levels. But, most importantly, I came to feel like the silent man in the gun room, on the fantail, aboard the boats carrying a tactical detachment of Marines and sailors ashore, in Aubrey's parlor with his family around me...and shared both angst and joy with Aubrey and Maturin, their families, and the crewmen. This series is well researched and written, fast paced, complex, and thoroughly absorbing. I read the first dozen or so back-to-back, and endured withdrawal pains while awaiting each subsequent book in the series to be released. The writing quality was maintained through all twenty novels, and the story builds sequentially--so it's best to start at the beginning. Rare for any fiction, I still feel I'm at sea aboard HMS Surprise after reading the 20th novel some dozen years ago.
What do You think about Blue At The Mizzen (2000)?
Even though I am logging this book in 2 years after I read it I am still so very sorry that this series ended. I miss Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin and will at some point start the series all over again. It's that good. Actually, it's that great. that said, I didn't not like reading it; but loved listening to it. Every title in the series was a treat. And Patrick Tull is the ONLY narrator to listen to. There are others but they really come up short. He is perfect the way Jim Dale is perfect for Harry Potter.
—Sharron
I've been putting off finishing the Aubrey-Maturin books for some time, but I guess this day had to come. While I admit I lost track of what the heck was going on in Chile for a while, I think this final volume is as good as most in the series, with some excellent birding / romancing on Stephen's part (obviously), and some decent naval action. I don't think it was intended to be the final volume, so there isn't any closure, but dedicated readers (and what other kind of reader would make it through 20 books?) will neither expect nor desire such frippery. A nightjar, a fair wind, some toasted cheese, and a little postprandial music will suffice for a lifetime. Wordsmegrims (n): low spirits (p. 157)bowgrace (n): some kind of a fender or protection for the bow when passing through icy seas. Can't seem to find a good picture of one, though. (p. 166)bibulous (adj): fond of the drink. It can also mean "absorbent." (o, 203)a-tanto (adj): some kind of positive attribute, maybe just "right" or "proper," I don't have a giant Oxford on hand, and Merrium-Webster is giving me nothing. Most search results refer to the "tanto" style of blade, which may be related. (p. 221)euphroes (n): piece of wood with holes through which wood is passed, usually to suspend something. (p. 234)surplice (n): Christian liturgical garment, usually with wide sleeves, usually cut off at thigh length. Usually worn over a cassock. (p. 235)
—Ken-ichi
Sad to see (hear) the series end. Anyone who likes audio books should opt for the Simon Vance ones. He does such a great job with the accents and characters, it's like sailing the Surprise a few points abaft the beam in five-fathom water. Or something nautical meaning "really fun and enjoyable." Or, to put it the half-empty way, now Patrick O'Brian and Simon Vance have conspired to make my commute a bore by forcing me to listen to books written by less-talented authors and read by much less amenable voice actors. No one book by O'Brian captures all of the series' historical flavor, wry, character-based humor, clever scheming, or daring action completely, but this one comes very close to epitomizing the genre that is the Aubrey & Maturin books.
—Steve Shea
