The Letter of Marque

Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 12

By: Patrick O'Brian

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

In The Letter of Marque, Jack is once again aboard his beloved Surprise but stripped of his post captaincy for a crime he did not commit. Bought by Stephen, the Surprise has become a privateer. Sailing into French waters, the two concoct a desperate mission which, if successful, may redeem Aubrey from his state of disgrace. A nighttime battle with an unusual climax, a jewel of great value and Stephen's fondness for opium make this segment of O'Brian's masterful series both original and profoundly exciting.©1988 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)

"[Narrator Patrick] Tull's characterization of these two heroes, his mastery of dialect and his rousing reading of these dramatic sea sagas have become a standard against which all other productions of O'Brian's work must be measured.... Historical fiction doesn't get any better, and Tull's narration is 'Prime.'" ( AudioFile)

In the top 3 of the series

The Surprise as a privateer is her finest incarnation. A time when she and her captain are matched by a professional crew and without the baggage of the navy and politics (although without said baggage this would never have happened) to ply their skills to amazing success. In this book jack and Stephen are brought low by their respective perennial demons but conquer them and finish victorious from their respective hero’s journey.
Patrick O’Brien’s writing is also at its prime mid series and free from the historical binds of actually events, you could say he is also
a-privateering. As usual Patrick Tull gives flawless voice to the book. It’s hard to believe this symbiotic perfection of the Patricks existed long before audible.com and the mainstream acceptance of audio books, a time of suit cases of tapes or cds from the local library.

Don't know what I'll do when these books run out

This is my blanket review for the entire series: they are fantastic, and wether or not you have a particular interest in naval history, I strongly recommend these books. I am not looking forward to the day I finish the last book.

One of the most enjoyable books of the series.

One of the best books in the series! They are all great but this one brings so much full circle.

Surprisingly engaging and good

I was skeptical that this edition of the ongoing story could be good and I was pleasantly surprised. The author continues to impress with believable twist and turns to the story. Satisfying end to a number of the story lines. Let's see what he can do next.

I much prefer the Simon Vance

If you could sum up The Letter of Marque in three words, what would they be?

Brilliant books, I've listened to them through at least 4 times. I got the first one, because of the movie, but it and the next 12 were read by Simon Vance. I dislike the other readers, as I'd gotten to "know" the characters in a different voice, and their character seemed to change with Patrick Tull and Tim Pigott Smith, to almost cartoonish. The Vance interpretation is more dignified, whereas the other readers make Stephen too "Irish" which is incongruous with his education, his travel, the fact that he speaks as many languages as he does, and with the fact that at dinners etc., strangers will comment on the Irish in a way that they would not if they knew he was Irish, which they would if he had such a thick accent. As well, he speaks so many languages, and is such a cool, shrewd spy, he should not be made to sound like such a buffoon as Tull makes him sound. He should sound as cool and suave, as Vance makes him sound. As well, Vance is such a master at all the different voices, accents, dialects, even languages, it is effortless to know who is talking, indeed you forget that the story is being read by one man. He even reads the female and child parts convincingly. Even though I have books 13-16 by Tull and Pigott Smith, when they come available by Vance, I will buy them again, and listen to them again. Vance makes Stephen and Jack each cool and sexy in their own way, while the other readers turn them into cartoon characters.