The Commodore (novel)

This article is about the seventeenth novel in Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. For the C.S. Forester Hornblower novel, see The Commodore.
The Commodore
First edition cover
AuthorPatrick O'Brian
Cover artistGeoff Hunt
LanguageEnglish
SeriesAubrey-Maturin series
GenreHistorical novel
PublisherHarperCollins (UK)
Publication date
1994
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book (Compact audio cassette, Compact Disc)
Pages281
ISBN0-002-55550-6 first UK edition, hardback
OCLC31970137
823/.914 20
LC ClassPR6029.B55 C66 1995
Preceded byThe Wine-Dark Sea 
Followed byThe Yellow Admiral 

The Commodore is the seventeenth historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by British author Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1995. The story is set during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812.

In this novel, Aubrey and Maturin complete their circumnavigation of the globe begun in The Thirteen Gun Salute and continued through The Nutmeg of Consolation, Clarissa Oakes/The Truelove, and The Wine-Dark Sea. After a long-awaited stay at home in England, Commodore Aubrey is given a squadron to conduct a mission against slave ships in West Africa and then he and Maturin are sent against Napoleon's Navy. Dr Maturin finally meets his young daughter, whom he must protect from a vicious enemy agent out to get him through his family. The story ranges from England to Spain to West Africa and the rocky west coast of Ireland.

Reviewers of this novel were impressed with how well the characters were drawn, if you met them, "you'd know them".[1] What keeps one reading is the "improbable, delightful friendship between the two men"[2] With part of the story on land, dealing with family issues, the impeccable writing marks O'Brian as the heir "of Jane Austen herself."[3] Reardon remarked the strengths of this novel thus: "The book is not so much about battle, although there are some battles. It is not so much about history, although it is filled with the real stuff of the past. It is not even, in the end, about sailing, although it captures with unique clarity the terrible beauty and wondrous excitement, the deep awe and hard work, that are so much the experience of keeping a ship afloat and on its voyage."[1]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Reardon1995 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference White1995 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kirkus1995 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).