Book description
The first novel Patrick O'Brian ever wrote about the sea - and the
precursor to the famous Aubrey/Maturin series - is now available in
ebook format for the first time.
The Golden Ocean is the first novel Patrick O'Brian ever wrote about
the sea. The novel shares the same sense of excitement and the rich
humour of the Aubrey/Maturin novels, invoking the eloquent style and
attention to historical detail that O'Brian readers admire so much.
The protagonist of this story is Peter Palafox, son of a poor Irish
parson, who signs on as a midshipman, never before having seen a ship.
He is a fellow who would have delighted the young Stephen Maturin or
Jack Aubrey… and quarrelled with them as well. Together with his
life-long friend Sean, Peter sets out to seek his fortune, embarking on
a journey of danger, disappointment, foreign lands and excitement.
Written in 1956, this is a tale certain to please not only the many
admirers of O'Brian, but any reader with an adventurous soul. 'The
story has in it something like greatness. It is naive, matter-of-fact;
tragic, richly funny; closely detailed but with a bold sweeping action.
It goes on that very small shelf reserved for authors who, disregarding
aptitudes spin a story out of the heart and soul of their experience and
the joy of living.'
TLS 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.
