Brilliant for what it is, an immersive historical fiction that does not halt for any audience member less than willing to roll along with its period jargon and nautical terms. I absolutely loved it, but I love the period of the Napoleonic Wars and I love letting myself sink into a time period even if I do not understand what the author is talking about for pages at a time (though the frontispiece map is very helpful for finding out the difference between a topsail and a royal, for example). If you don't enjoy either of those things, I'm not sure why you'd pick up this book at all. If you do, you will likely also love the bluff narrative perspective of Jack Aubrey, the generally non-toxic relationship between men that is surfaced throughout, the oddball characterization of Maturin, and the delightfully true-paced sea battles. This whole series has a very specific reader; you'll know quite quickly if you're one of us (and no, it's not just dudes, I swear). ( )

Only fair, very hard to read due to language (very flowery, ver y BRITISH, & too nautical without explanations)

I originally read the first book in 1997. Finished Blue at the Mizzen in 2013. It was time to start over.

Words are at a loss on this novel and the series. O'Brian is a unique writer that doesn't clobber you over the head with his character interactions or events. Subtle is his usual method, and once you get used to that, his writing will bring you into new depths of humor, character development, action, intrigues, romance and so much more. No romance in this book, but others do have it.

I highly recommend this series and the audiobooks read by Simon Vance.

If this is your first time into naval warfare, then I suggest picking up Sea of Words or something along that line to help with the naval terms. ( )

Series

Jack Aubrey invites Stephen Maturin to become his ship's doctor/surgeon in 1800.

It is certainly a steep learning curve as the author makes no concessions to readers' ignorance of naval terminology and practice of the period. There were definitely times when I had no idea what was going on. it certainly throws into relief how much other authors play down the strangeness of the past. ( )