The Yellow Admiral

The Yellow Admiral
First edition cover
AuthorPatrick O'Brian
Cover artistGeoff Hunt
LanguageEnglish
SeriesAubrey-Maturin series
GenreHistorical novel
PublisherHarperCollins (UK)
Publication date
1996
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book (Compact audio cassette, Compact Disc)
Pages282 first edition, hardback
ISBN0-393-04044-5 first edition, hardback
OCLC34943241
823/.914 20
LC ClassPR6029.B55 Y45 1996
Preceded byThe Commodore 
Followed byThe Hundred Days 

The Yellow Admiral is the eighteenth naval historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by English author Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1996. The story is set in the era of the Napoleonic Wars.

The ships of his squadron are dispersed by the Admiralty as Aubrey's two missions (to the slave coast of Africa and up to Ireland's west coast) were completed and Aubrey is no longer a commodore. Captain Aubrey is left in command of HMS Bellona. He sails her on blockade duty around Brest, France, under an admiral who dislikes him for actions on land and makes trouble for Aubrey in the Royal Navy. On land, he is settled in Woolcombe, the family estate, where he has powers as lord of the manor. Aubrey's financial troubles are eased by his capture of a prize. Dr Maturin retrieves his family but not his fortune, and they settle in an empty wing of the Aubrey's family estate. As the war against Napoleon looks to be ending, Maturin works out a plan to keep Aubrey at sea on his privately owned ship Surprise to chart Chile's coast, while Maturin aids the Chilean independence movement. Aubrey suspends himself from the Navy List to avoid the worst career fate, being yellowed, set aside with no squadron of his own, until his reputation can be salvaged, to which end, Napoleon lends a hand by restarting the war.

Critical reception varied, from "taking his readers for granted",[1] "an interim novel"[2] or "somewhat predictable, nonetheless full of life"[3] to "another excellent adventure"[4] and "the top of his elegant form".[5] As often happens, reviewers comment on the whole series to date ("virtuosity",[6] "the best things of their kind",[3] "uniquely excellent",[3] "as always lapidary prose"[5]), and are glad this is not the last book in the series, there is more to come, recommending readers new to the series to start it from the first novel. Aubrey's relationship with his wife is noted as a strong point of this novel, as is the sly humor and some of the "set pieces", like the boxing match and actions at sea during the blockade.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Yardley1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference telegraph was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Teachout1996 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kirkus1996 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference PW1996 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Balzar1996 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).