HMS Surprise (novel)
First edition
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| Author | Patrick O'Brian |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Aubrey-Maturin series |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Collins (UK) |
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Publication date
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1973 |
| Media type | Print Hardback & Paperback & Audio Book Compact audio cassette, Compact Disc |
| Pages | 416 |
| ISBN | First hardback edition |
| OCLC | 722008 |
| 823/.9/14 | |
| LC Class | PZ3.O1285 Hac PR6029.B55 |
| Preceded by | Post Captain |
| Followed by | The Mauritius Command |
HMS Surprise is the third historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1973. The series follows the partnership of Captain Jack Aubrey and the naval surgeon Stephen Maturin during the wars against Napoleon's France.
Maturin is tortured gathering intelligence. On HMS Surprise, Aubrey and Maturin make a long voyage to bring an ambassador to Southeast Asia, rounding the southern tip of Africa.
Some reviewers found the novel with "superb depictions of life", yet too full of nautical detail, while others found that detail part of the author's erudition and not in the way of the plot. The author showed "capacity for creating another completely believable world", while another reviewer said the novel is "stretching its genre [naval adventure] but never escaping it."
A convoy including Aubrey seized the ships carrying the gold deemed necessary by Spain to agree to join the war on the side of France. On the quibble that Spain had not yet entered the war, the new First Lord of the Admiralty decides the vast sum is a droit of the Crown so thus not shared out with the captors. Smaller amounts will be distributed to the captains, quite opposite to the expectations of the successful convoy. The First Lord blunders into mentioning the name of intelligence agent Stephen Maturin during the proceedings, very risky for Maturin.
Maturin goes on a mission to Spain, and is to be picked up at Port Mahon by Aubrey, now on convoy duty near Toulon in HMS Lively. At the rendezvous point, Aubrey learns from a Catalan revolutionary that Maturin has been captured and is being tortured by French intelligence in Port Mahon on Minorca, returned to Spain in the Peace of Amiens. Aubrey leads a rescue mission, saving a ravaged Maturin and killing all but one of the French interrogators (Captain Dutourd). In England, Aubrey is taken by bailiffs and is held in a sponging-house. Maturin tells Sir Joseph of his capture and Aubrey’s predicament. Aubrey's marriage to Sophia Williams is deferred, as her mother insists that he be debt-free. Maturin gets Aubrey an advance on his grant of money. Aubrey is released. Sophia meets Aubrey before he takes command of his new ship HMS Surprise. They meet in a coach in the middle of the night, and promise to marry no one else.
Aubrey and Maturin leave in the Surprise to ferry an ambassador to the Sultan of Kampong on the Malay Peninsula. Aubrey hopes to find the French squadron commanded by Admiral Linois, who once took him prisoner. Surprise gets caught in the doldrums north of the equator, and the crew show signs of scurvy. On a very hot Sunday, Maturin takes a short stop on St Paul's Rock. Two serious storms strike; the officer who rowed him out is drowned and Surprise is damaged and driven out of sight. Maturin survives on bird-fouled water and the blood of boobies, and claims that these days under the hot sun have restored his health after the torture. They stop along the coast of Brazil for fresh foods and supplies, and a sloth; this is Maturin's first time in the New World. They put in at Rio for mail.
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