Patrick O'Brian - Master and Commander

Patrick O'Brian - Master and Commander

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Discussion

TheJimi

Original Poster:

24,860 posts

242 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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Any fans on here?

I'm about to give it a bash smile

tertius

6,838 posts

229 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Yes, absolutely fabulous. Unmatched in its genre.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Excellent story telling and excellent writing. But be aware that the first few pages of every book in the series (at least this is how I remember it) give you a primer on ships, wind and ranks, none of which is needed if you have been paying attention.

Baron Greenback

6,961 posts

149 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Thoughly enjoyed the series, glad I live in the in the naughties and not 1800, especially dentistry!

Paul Dishman

4,676 posts

236 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Brilliant books, need a bit of perserverance to get into at first

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Superb books. All mine on audio books and waiting for some more to catch up on audible. But they ain't half losing your self in them.

Different to hHornblower of course, different styles.


Edit. Am I right I thinking cochrane was an inspiration for both authors?



Edited by jmorgan on Wednesday 15th April 20:10

CuckooInMyNest

2,976 posts

175 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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jmorgan said:
Edit. Am I right I thinking cochrane was an inspiration for both authors?
Don't know about Hornblower but I believe Jack Aubrey was based on Thomas Cochrane.

A good example of fact being stranger than fiction.

Cracking book about Cochrane here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cochrane-Britannias-CASSEL...

Pixel Pusher

10,188 posts

158 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Yep, loved them. Lucky enough to read the entire series back to back.

Also then did the entire Sharpe series.

Fantastic stuff.

cardigankid

8,849 posts

211 months

Friday 17th April 2015
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Superb, enjoyed it so much I wrote to Patrick O'Brien who kindly signed a dedication for me and sent it back. Sadly he passed away not long after that.

The books just get better and better as you go through the series.

Skywalker

3,269 posts

213 months

Saturday 18th April 2015
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They are brilliant. Actually accurate eough to be informative and 'right ripping' adventures as well.

Nom de ploom

4,890 posts

173 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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Paul Dishman said:
Brilliant books, need a bit of perserverance to get into at first
thanks for his in particular as I gave up on book one after about 3 or 4 chapters....

i lost count of the explicit details around rank, appearance, naval history etc etc...

shall I give it another go?



Paul Dishman

4,676 posts

236 months

Monday 20th April 2015
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Nom de ploom said:
Paul Dishman said:
Brilliant books, need a bit of perserverance to get into at first
thanks for his in particular as I gave up on book one after about 3 or 4 chapters....

i lost count of the explicit details around rank, appearance, naval history etc etc...

shall I give it another go?
Yes, it's worth it smile

cardigankid

8,849 posts

211 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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CuckooInMyNest said:
Don't know about Hornblower but I believe Jack Aubrey was based on Thomas Cochrane.

A good example of fact being stranger than fiction.

Cracking book about Cochrane here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cochrane-Britannias-CASSEL...
I think that Hornblower was conceived as a young protege of Nelson - certainly very much in the Nelson mould without being quite as eccentric. The rest, from Ramage to Aubrey, were based on Hornblower, with variations. They all used some of Cochrane's adventures - and you would be right to say that HMS Surprise was based on HMS Speedy. However, all of these heroes are died in the wool natural sea captains and patriots. Cochrane, in the great Scottish tradition, was an, er, pirate.

cardigankid

8,849 posts

211 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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Nom de ploom said:
thanks for his in particular as I gave up on book one after about 3 or 4 chapters....

i lost count of the explicit details around rank, appearance, naval history etc etc...

shall I give it another go?
Definitely. His technique is to immerse you in the detail to the point that you think that you are one of the deckhands. its not a fashionable approach, but the way to go is to stick with it.

DuncanM

6,108 posts

278 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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tertius said:
Yes, absolutely fabulous. Unmatched in its genre.
This!

My favourite books of all time, can't recommend highly enough smile

DuncanM

6,108 posts

278 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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It's the humour I love, I always forget how bloody funny they are until a re-read smile


TheHangingJudge

818 posts

143 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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cardigankid said:
Nom de ploom said:
thanks for his in particular as I gave up on book one after about 3 or 4 chapters....

i lost count of the explicit details around rank, appearance, naval history etc etc...

shall I give it another go?
Definitely. His technique is to immerse you in the detail to the point that you think that you are one of the deckhands. its not a fashionable approach, but the way to go is to stick with it.
Seconded. Let it wash over you, if anything really needs to be understood the doctor will be along to ask the question and you'll get an explanation.

rupert the dog

1,433 posts

216 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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Magnificent series of books. I've read and reread them several times, and will undoubtedly go back to them again. Totally recommended.

williredale

2,866 posts

151 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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rupert the dog said:
Magnificent series of books. I've read and reread them several times, and will undoubtedly go back to them again. Totally recommended.
Me too. I've read the series twice and will do so again at some point.

JeremyH5

1,569 posts

134 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
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Only twice?! I've read the whole lot six times and still find nuances that had passed me by in earlier read through's. I think I'll leave it a year before I start again. Yes, I am very keen on the writing style and the stories. Perfection.
Be aware that O'Brian spent years researching actual British naval actions and using the story lines from them whilst placing his characters in the story.

I think you'll find that it was Aubrey's first command HMS Sophie that was based on Cochrane's HMS Speedy not Surprise.