The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (Aubrey-Maturin, Book 21)

Description

The adventure continues . . . At the time of his death, Patrick O'Brian had begun to write the twenty-first book in his famous and much-loved Aubrey-Maturin series. The chapters he left behind are presented here, both in printed version and a facsimile of his manuscript, which goes several pages beyond the end of the typescript and includes O'Brian's own marginal notes. The story picks up from the end of Blue at the Mizzen when Jack Aubrey receives the news, in Chile, of his elevation to flag rank: Rear Admiral of the Blue Squadron, with orders to sail to the South Africa station. 'This fragment is both delightful and tantalising, with hints of a plot that might have involved Jack and Stephen with St Helena or Napoleon himself.' Literary Review

Patrick O'Brian, until his death in 2000, was one of our greatest contemporary novelists. He is the author of the acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin tales and the biographer of Joseph Banks and Picasso. He is the author of many other books including Testimonies, and his Collected Short Stories. In 1995 he was the first recipient of the Heywood Hill Prize for a lifetime's contribution to literature. In the same year he was awarded the CBE. In 1997 he received an honorary doctorate of letters from Trinity College, Dublin. He lived for many years in South West France and he died in Dublin in January 2000.

'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 'The Aubrey-Maturin novels, by Patrick O'Brian, are so addictive that after I finish one I have to hide the next from myself for a little while in order to do anything else but read.' Louise Erdrich 'In Aubrey and Maturin, Patrick O'Brian has created two of the most enjoyable characters in twentieth-century fiction. Their relationship sustains an absorbing and thrilling sequence of naval stories, unrivalled in their complexity, full of impeccable detail and psychological insight. O'Brian switches from the intimate to the epic with equal assurance. One of the greatest authors to sail with.' Michael Palin '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 'I devoured Patrick O'Brian's twenty-volume masterpiece as if it had been so many tots of Jamaica grog.' Christopher Hitchens 'Written with most engaging enthusiasm that can't fail to give pleasure to anybody who enjoys historical adventure flavoured with more than a dash of realism.' The Sunday Times 'One of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of historical fictional writing this century.' James Teacher, Spectator 'Patrick O'Brian brings depth to his sea-stories with outstanding dialogue, characterisation, humour and a golden thread of romance. You don't have to love books about naval battles to become entranced.' Katie Fforde