Book description
At the time of his death, Patrick O'Brian had begun to write a novel to
follow on from Blue at the Mizzen, the twentieth book in the classic
series. These are the chapters he had completed of the final voyage of
Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. Now they are available for the first
time in electronic book format.
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 novel, unfinished and untitled at the time of O'Brian's
death, would have been a chronicle of that mission, and much else besides.
The chapters left on O'Brian's death are presented here both in printed
version - including his corrections to the typescript - and a facsimilie
of his manuscript, which goes several pages beyond the end of the
typescript and includes marginal notes by O'Brian.
And so this great 'roman fleuve' comes to an end with Jack, with his
'sacred blue flag', sailing through fair, sweet days - Stephen with his
dissections and new love, Killick muttering darkly over the toasted
cheese… Of course, we would rather have had the whole story; instead we
have this proof that O'Brian's powers of observation, his humour and his
understanding of his characters were undiminished to the end. 'Patrick
O'Brian has given a farewell to his followers that is as gracious as it
is gallant. And we, in turn, may find some solace in the thought that of
all people, this man would not have hated to be taken out of action much
as Nelson was: deep in triumph, shedding glory on the service he loved,
and still at the peak of his powers.' Richard Snow
'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 Patrick O'Brian, was until his death in 2000, one of
our greatest contemporary novelists and widely regarded as one of the
greatest storytellers of the English language. He is the author of the
acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin novels and the biographer of Joseph Banks and
Picasso. He has also written other novels including Testimonies, and
many 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. In 2003, his Aubrey novels were
taken to the big screen by the film director Peter Weir with the
blockbuster and critically acclaimed Master and Commander: The Far Side
of the World. He died in Dublin in January 2000.
