The Fortune of War: Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 6
4.7 | 3,584 ratings
Price: 19.44
Last update: 02-24-2026
Product details
- Book 6 of 21 : Aubrey/Maturin Novels
- Listening Length : 13 hours and 10 minutes
- Author : Patrick O'Brian
- Narrator : Patrick Tull
- Publication date : December 19, 2003
- Language : English
- Publisher : Recorded Books
- ASIN : B0001A0WWK
- Version : Unabridged
- Program Type : Audiobook
- Best Sellers Rank:#4,880 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
- Adventure Travel (Audible Books & Originals)
- Adventure Travel (Books)
- Sea Adventure Fiction
- Customer Reviews:4.74.7 out of 5 stars(3,584)
Top reviews from the United States
- M. L. AsselinEnter The War of 1812, and The United StatesTHE FORTUNE OF WAR is the sixth volume in Patrick O'Brian's masterful adventure series about Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N. and his dear friend, Dr. Stephen Maturin. Though the Aubrey-Maturin novels can stand more-or-less alone, the narratives are closely linked. THE FORTUNE OF WAR in this way finds Aubrey's ship, HMS Leopard, limping into the fictional bay of Pulo Batang in the Spice Islands, after its disastrous near-sinking by an iceberg in DESOLATION ISLAND. This volume has Aubrey and Maturin suffer two more disasters at sea before finding themselves prisoner in Boston. Earlier books in the series, in particular DESOLATION ISLAND, had had Americans figure into the story line, but this is the first in which the young American nation features prominently. The cause for this is the War of 1812, and now the focus of battle turns from the French and Spanish to the United States.
Maturin plays an especially strong part in the plot of THE FORTUNE OF WAR. Although the Aubrey -Maturin novels are historical nautical fiction, largely renowned for their accurate depiction of the early eighteenth-century Royal Navy, some of the novels may also be seen as part of the espionage genre, with Maturin serving as a spy on behalf of the British crown. In previous stories, for instance, Maturin suffered torture under the French for his espionage; in another instance, one closely tied to the plot of this story, he tricks the French into killing off a number of their intelligence assets. In THE FORTUNE OF WAR, Maturin's past catches up with him, and he is forced to take action of a sort that belies his reputation as a physician and gentle naturalist.
This novel is in some ways much stronger than the fifth volume, DESOLATION ISLAND, which, though having a strong finish, at times appeared to lose the wind in its sails. THE FORTUNE OF WAR makes it clear that O'Brian's ideas and storytelling remain strong and vibrant in this series; with so many volumes yet ahead, this is indeed reassuring.
As usual, O'Brian's research is thorough, yet the historical details don't overwhelm the story. The pace is fairly brisk, with only some stalling--perhaps appropriately so--in Boston. This is fortunately not caused so much by the reappearance of Diana Villiers, Stephen Maturin's great love of his life. (She is as welcome to this reader of O'Brian's stories as is Jack's wife, Sophie.) The wimpy minor character Michael Herapath, the son of a wealthy American trader, also reemerges. But I find him somewhat interesting for his passionate interest in Chinese poetry; this accurately reflects the growing interest in the nineteenth century in the literature of China, and is an example of the interesting ways O'Brian treats the reader with tastings of such historical esoterica.
THE FORTUNE OF WAR describes a couple of naval engagements. The one that features at the end of this novel is as good (if not better) as any rendered by Patrick O'Brian in any of the volumes up to this one. In it, O'Brian captures the technical details of the fighting while also conveying very effectively the horror of the moment (actually, fifteen minutes). It is crackerjack writing, vivid and spellbinding. - R. Williams... should be required reading for anyone who loves a great story with compelling charactersEvery Patrick O'Brien novel - especially all of the Aubrey Maturin series - should be required reading for anyone who loves a great story with compelling characters, adventure, suspense and just the slightest touch of romance. Add to that that they are steeped in actual history - based on the logbooks of the RN captains who sailed in the era about which he writes - these are history lessons in the most entertaining form imaginable. Highest recommendation i could possibly give.
- FliboiSail on - Jack Aubrey!I'm no nautical person but these stories are gripping and I feel like I've learned a lot about sailing and also about sailing ships. As soon as I've read one, I have to read the next! I love the humour built into the conversations and the dry observations by Steven Maturin. Great entertainment.
- fogcutterI'll go ahead and say it ...If you liked Assassin's Creed III, you're gonna love this one. (Sorry, I love the games. Guilty pleasure.)
I keep feeling the same way about each book as I progress through this series, that each one is "the best one I've read so far." Frankly, I think this one is going to be one of the toughest to beat. O'Brian takes the guys on a troubled journey which sends them to Boston, and develops perhaps the most intriguing storyline up until this point in the series, culminating in the real-life defeat of the USS Chesapeake. He shows us Jack struggling as a badly-wounded prisoner for a great deal of the book, completely on his heels in one way or another throughout. We see Stephen go through a painful reunion with Diana, commit two murders, and worry sincerely about his best friend. We see conflicted Americans take actions against their country to end a senseless war. As always, O'Brian gives us vivid settings, rich characters, action and humor to keep us glued in to the narrative. I had to give this one five stars, as I know I will be back to read it even as I continue to progress through the series. Highly recommended, if you're selectively picking through the series, this one can't be missed.