The Golden Ocean

By: Patrick O’Brian

Narrated by: Kevin Hely

The first novel Patrick O’Brian ever wrote about the sea – and the precursor to the famous Aubrey-Maturin series.

The Golden Ocean is the first novel Patrick O’Brian ever wrote about the sea. The novel shares the same sense of excitement and the rich humour of the Aubrey-Maturin novels, invoking the eloquent style and attention to historical detail that O’Brian readers admire so much.

The protagonist of this story is Peter Palafox, son of a poor Irish parson, who signs on as a midshipman, never before having seen a ship. He is a fellow who would have delighted the young Stephen Maturin or Jack Aubrey … and quarrelled with them as well. Together with his life-long friend Sean, Peter sets out to seek his fortune, embarking on a journey of danger, disappointment, foreign lands and excitement.

Written in 1956, this is a tale certain to please not only the many admirers of O’Brian, but any reader with an adventurous soul.

©2023 Patrick O’Brian (P)2023 Simon and Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"If O’Brian’s novels have become a cult, this is because they are truly addictive... They are, quite magnificently, adventure yarns whose superb authenticity never distracts from the sheer thrill of the action." (Caroline Moore, Sunday Telegraph)

"My hero is Patrick O’Brian. It’s basically impossible to write that well." (David Mamet)

"One of the most compelling and brilliant novelists of his time... Beyond his superbly elegant writing, wit and originality, Patrick O’Brian showed an understanding of the nature of a floating world at the mercy of the wind and the sea which has never been surpassed." (Max Hastings, Evening Standard)