Blue at the Mizzen

By: Patrick O'Brian

Narrated by: Tim Pigott-Smith

In this, the twentieth installment of the Aubrey/Maturin series, Napoleon has been defeated at Waterloo, and the ensuing peace takes on an ugly complexion for Captain Jack Aubrey: the desertion of nearly half his crew; and the sudden dimming of his own career prospects in a peacetime navy. To cap it off, the Surprise is nearly sunk in a shattering night collision on the first leg of her journey to South America where Jack and Stephen are to help Chile assert her independence from Spain. In the end it is Jack's bold initiative to strike at the vastly superior Spanish fleet that precipitates the spectacular naval action that will determine both Chile's fate and his own.

The End of the Saga...

Left me feeling a little let down, but very happy that at least if it had to end, it ended on a happy note. Could you imagine how we would all have felt if POB had died after writing Reverse of the Medal?

When we left our heroes in the previous book, they were fitting out for the voyage to deal with Chile and Peru - the War was over, Napoleon on his way to the Ille de France, and Jack had voluntarily removed his name from the Post Captain's List in order to avoid the certain yellowing that his new enemy (also his last command's Admiral) certainly intended for him. Thanks to Stephen there is a reprieve possible, but where does it lead? We find out here!

This is not as exciting as previous books, in that while not totally lacking the famous energy that POB usually put into the Aubrey/Maturin saga, it may just be that he was showing his age. However it was brilliantly researched, and much like the rest of the saga, the connection to the past is there, and the author does not insist upon the happy world that most build for their primary characters.

Under the circumstances I am very happy to have had the opportunity to hear this story, as I believe you will be too. This book appeared in print shortly before the author passed away. He died at Trinity College in Ireland, doing exactly what he liked to do best - research.

Blue At The Mizzen

Frankly, I feel ripped off. I just agreed to subscribe and this was my first download. I've listened to all the previous Patrick O'Brien books via Recorded Books. Not a one was abridged. I had no idea Audible.com presented abridged books. There I am listening away and wondering where are the O'Brien details - the HEART of his writing. So, I check and sure enough - ABRIDGED! And, it's right there on the site for me to see, IF I'd had a clue to look. So what is it about abridged anyway? The reader likes the book but not enough to read the entire book? So. Be warned. It's ABRIDGED. Forgettaboutit.

listened for 30-45 minutes

Nothing against the reader, but after listening to Patrick Tull for so many of the books in the series, it just seems necessary for him to be the story teller! And I found later that he did narrate Blue at the Mizzen.