The Thirteen-Gun Salute
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| Author | Patrick O'Brian |
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| Cover artist | Geoff Hunt |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Aubrey–Maturin series |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Published | 1989 Collins (UK) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book (Compact audio cassette, Compact Disc) |
| Pages | 319 |
| ISBN | first Collins edition, hardback |
| OCLC | 23692637 |
| 823/.914 20 | |
| LC Class | PR6029.B56 T45 1991 |
| Preceded by | The Letter of Marque |
| Followed by | The Nutmeg of Consolation |
The Thirteen Gun Salute is the thirteenth historical novel in the Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1989. The story is set during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. The first edition bears this title, whereas later issues have used The Thirteen-Gun Salute featuring a hyphenated title.
Spain hears that England may be supporting the independence of its colonies in South America, while an envoy is needed in the Malay states to gain an ally for England. These two changes alter Aubrey's mission from his private man-of-war, Surprise en route to South America, to reinstatement on the Navy List and command of HMS Diane, carrying the envoy. This novel constitutes the first of a five-novel circumnavigation of the globe; other novels in this voyage include The Nutmeg of Consolation, Clarissa Oakes, The Wine-Dark Sea, and The Commodore.
Reviews of this novel follow the plot but are more properly reviews of the series to date, as W. W. Norton began publishing the series of novels in the US. Richard Snow, writing in the New York Times, said they were "the best historical novels ever written." Many in the US took note of his article and sought out the novels. Writing about this novel, comments include that "the ultimate appeal of the Aubrey/Maturin adventures lies in O'Brian's delicious old-fashioned prose" that is "sketching with apparent accuracy and truth the early 19th-century world." Another reviewer finds "There is a recklessness with plot that is intentionally subversive of the genre." As to this novel's plot, "the most charming segment is Maturin's idyllic stay in a remote valley, where he blissfully encounters and studies a variety of tame exotic beasts."
After spending time on land, Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, and their shipmates are preparing for a mission to sail the letter of marque Surprise on a mission to South America. Upon reaching Lisbon, Sir Joseph Blaine intercepts Maturin with news that he and Aubrey are required to carry a diplomat to the Sultan of Pulo Prabang, a piratical Malay state in the South China Sea. They are to transport Fox, the envoy leading the mission to persuade the Sultan to become an English rather than French ally. The French envoys include the same English traitors - Ledward and Wray - who were responsible for Aubrey's former disgrace. With the Surprise under the command of Captain Pullings, Aubrey and Maturin return with Blaine to England, where Lord Melville, First Lord of the Admiralty, reinstates Aubrey as a Post-Captain in the Royal Navy and gives him command of the recently captured French ship Diane. The voyage south forms the crew, with frequent training on the guns; by the luck of a timely breeze and much hard rowing in the ship's boats, Diane escapes the inshore currents of Inaccessible Island. Sailing through the high forties (south latitude), she first touches land at Java, meeting Lieutenant Governor Raffles near Batavia, where they hear the first word of bank failures in England.
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