The Yellow Admiral (Aubrey/Maturin Novels, 18) (Book 18)

Patrick O'Brian's series on the lives of Captain Jack Aubrey and his ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin is a treasure in English historical fiction. Though the characters of Aubrey and Maturin are fictional, the adventures and battles and dramas are largely based on O'Brian's extensive study of the records of the Royal Navy from the early 1800s, and Aubrey’s personality and tactics are likely influenced by an actual Scottish captain of the era. The 21 books are intended to be read in order, and they do build on one another with common stories and threads throughout. The language is masterful, as is the storytelling. The plots are riveting. The personalities are engaging. These are heroes with feet of clay, flawed as are all men, but great as only few are. Interwoven into the stories are the history and controversies and cultural developments of the time. I have read the series twice and was glued to the stories both times. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is just a war series, or a nautical series, or a series of unrelated and imagined engagements. It is a tapestry of the politics, wars, and cultural developments of this crucial time in the formation of the Western world as it approached the industrial age. Throughout it all the characters grow and suffer and exalt and love and grieve, and we get to do it all with them. Though the stories are decidedly masculine, I believe women will be engaged by the stories as well, and there are several key female characters throughout.WARNING: Buy the individual books that are from the same publisher as this volume. Someone threw together a compilation of all the books into several volumes and by all accounts the typesetting is horrible, butchering the particulars of nautical language and making glaring typographical errors to the point of utter distraction. I have also heard that publisher is putting out individual editions of the books but retaining all the errors of the compilations.

"The Yellow Admiral" is 18th in the 20 novel Aubrey-Maturin series, featuring Captain Jack Aubrey and his companion ship surgeon Stephen Maturin, set in the year 1815. "The Yellow Admiral" one a episode in a grand epic, and as such the plot is of secondary importance. Revealing "how it comes out" does not really constitute a spoiler. For reader's new to the series, the titles often describe the ending of the novel, or the next novel in the series.The novel begins with a rather through summary of preceding novels in the series, through various second-hand accounts. So, a reader new to the series could start with "The Yellow Admiral" and not be too confused. Caveat, once you've read any book in the series, you're hooked. So, if you are thinking about reading "The Yellow Admiral", do it right. Start with Book 1, "Master and Commander"SUMMARYThe action begins at with Jack on temporary leave at his estate at Woolcombe, England, to attend to his Parlimentary duties. Jack is very much opposed to the enclosures of the commons in general and specifically of "Simmon's Lea". As "Lord of the Manor", he is in a position to essentially veto the effort, and does. We learn a great deal about the subject, the effect on "small holders" and the politics. Jack's opposition to the enclosure, other political positions he has hold in Parliament, and unpopularity in some parts of the Royal Navy threaten his naval career if peace with France breaks out.Jack is ordered to sea to join a rather uneventful blockade of Brest, France. During which his wife Sophie learns of an affair Jack had with an American woman.When the blockade ends, with the capture of Napoleon, facing the fact that he will almost certainly be "yellowed", i.e., be promoted to admiral but never given a command, Jack opts to temporarily resign his commission in order to accept a private commission surveying the coasts of Chile, and organizing a Chilean navy. The agreement is accepted by "the powers that be", with the proviso that Jack can be called back into service with the Royal Navy at any time.So, Jack and Stephen set sale on the former "HMS Surprise"-now privately owned by Stephen--for Chile. At Madeira, he receives orders to take command of all Royal Navy ships at Madeira to blockade the Straits of Gibralter.CRITIQUEAlthough lacking the wonderful action sequences of pitched naval battles, "The Yellow Admiral" is extraordinarily rich and vibrant. In addition to the politics of the time, and vivid details of nautical life, the state of medicine (and surgery) are brilliantly illuminated.Not for the action junky, and maybe not the ideal introduction to the series. But for fans of the series, another superb installment.I have lost track of how many times I have read the entire series start to finish--somewhere between six and ten times, and I look forward to re-reading the series again and again.> Click on “Stoney” just below the product title to see my other reviews, or leave a comment to ask a question.

With #20 I've read the whole series now and just started over again at the beginning. For the third time. There are depths to this author that I missed the first and second times through. Just keep your dictionary and atlas close by!

For the past 10 years I have been reading all the O'Brian - Jack Aubrey books. I enjoy them so much, I only read them during vacations so I can throw myself into them. I only have a couple of books left and after I am done, I will feel like a old friend has moved away. I really enjoyed "The Yellow Admiral" It only took a couple of sessions to read because I did not want to put it down. If you like this series, then you will like this book too.

Magnificent!

I have read many of the Aubrey/Maturin books by Patrick O'Brian. I must say, this is by far the weakest. NOTHING HAPPENS! The first part of the book has Aubrey and Maturin wandering around, mostly at Aubrey's home. They natter on about the land, politics, a little nature, and Aubrey's responsibilities as the member of parliament for the area. Once they get out to sea, they are on duty patroling outside Brest, to keep French ships from going in or out. Apparently none do. The admiral hates Aubrey, because he voted agains the admiral's nephew in a parliamentary vote about how to use land. The only action in the entire book is Aubrey and his ship going after a "prize," which promptly gives up without a fight. Throughout the book, Aubrey worries about what will happen if war ends, and he is retired, nominally as an admiral, but with no command. This is what is called being a yellow admiral, and it is considered quite a disgrace. It gets quite boring. Really, there is absolutely no action in the entire book. I wish I hadn't wasted my time reading it. There was no pleasure and no entertainment value whatsoever.

This series is a great read for any age.

Bought as gift