The Thirteen-Gun Salute

Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely hailed as the greatest series of historical novels ever written. Reinstated to the Navy List, Jack Aubrey embarks on a secret mission with a hand-picked crew in this continuation of the Aubrey-Maturin series.

For all of Jack Aubrey's life, he has triumphed, often sensationally, over the dangers of the sea and the violence of the enemy. However, his rashness, his guilelessness, and his indiscretion have often enabled his rivals to prevent him from reaping his just rewards. The nadir was reached in The Reverse of the Medal when, as the victim of a skilful frame-up, he was convicted of fraud and struck off the Navy List just as he was nearing flag rank. The subsequent exposure of the conspiracy, coupled with his brilliant success in command of a privateer, brought him to a position where Their Lordships were more or less obligated to reinstate him.

As The Thirteen-Gun Salute opens, Jack Aubrey and his old friend Dr Maturin are sailing on a secret mission with a hand-picked crew, most of whom are shipmates from the adventures and lucrative voyages of earlier years.