1
of
1
HMS Surprise
Series: Aubrey-Maturin
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 21,054 ratings, 983 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2300
$2500
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY
Found a better price? Request a price match
HMS Surprise
$2300
$2500
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Latest News
Story to Screen Report - 26/08/26
Another week, another huge round of Story to Screen news! From exciting new adaptations and...
Why you need to start a family boardgame night
Board games aren't just for adults, they're perfect to do as a family. Here's why...
From Page to Panel: The Rise of Graphic Novel Adaptations
Discover why graphic novel adaptations are booming, from ‘Dune’ and ‘Sapiens’ to ‘Call Me by...
Why You Should Read Folk Horror!
If you're looking for a new read and haven't yet tried Folk Horror as a...
Movie Review on The End of Oak Street
Lizzy and Roopa are sharing their reviews of The End of Oak Street, a movie...
See moreHow far will a man go in the name of revenge, honour, love or simple survival?
The epic historical action adventure historical fiction novel
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures, introducing these modern classics to a new generation.
HMS Surprise follows the variable fortunes of Captain Jack Aubrey's career in Nelson's navy as he attempts to hold his ground against admirals, colleagues, and the enemy, accepting a mission to convey a British ambassador to the East Indies. The voyage takes him and his friend Stephen Maturin to the strange sights and smells of the Indian sub-continent and through the archipelago of spice islands where the French have a near-overwhelming superiority.
Rarely has a novel managed to convey more vividly the fragility of a sailing ship in a wild sea. Rarely has a historical novelist combined action and lyricism of style in the way that O'Brian does. His superb sense of place, brilliant characterisation, and a vigour and joy of writing lift O'Brian above any but the most exalted of comparisons.
Series: Aubrey-Maturin
View all-
20% offMaster and Commander
Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian is the enthralling first instalment in the acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin series, celebrated as one of the finest collections of historical novels ever penned. The story sets sail in the early 19th century during the Napoleonic Wars and introduces the reader to Captain Jack Aubrey RN and Dr Stephen Maturin, a ship’s surgeon with a covert...Paperback$2000Usually:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Hundred Days
'If we had only two or three of O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series, we would count ourselves lucky; with six or seven the author would be safely among the greats of historical fiction. But this is his nineteenth volume!' WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE, Literary Review Following the extraordinary success of The Yellow Admiral, this latest Aubrey-Maturin novel brings alive the sights and sounds of...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
20% off
The Mauritius Command
In The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian, the enthralling adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and his close confidante, Stephen Maturin, continue with a mission of unparalleled complexity and danger. When Aubrey finds himself ashore on half-pay and devoid of a command, his spirits are lifted by the arrival of Maturin, who doubles as a covert intelligence agent with pivotal orders....Paperback$2000Usually:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Treason’s Harbour
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. Uniquely among authors of naval fiction, Patrick O'Brian allows...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Yellow Admiral
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures, and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. The Yellow Admiral—the eighteenth novel in the sequence hailed...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Desolation Island
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. Commissioned to rescue Governor Bligh of Bounty fame, Captain...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Far Side of the World
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. It is still the War of 1812. Patrick O'Brian...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Clarissa Oakes
The fifteenth Aubrey-Maturin novel in which Jack finds himself reunited with the Surprise, but dangerously out of touch with his crew. All the elements that have made Patrick O'Brian's astonishing series one of the most highly praised works in contemporary fiction are here in Clarissa Oakes—the narrative grip, the impeccable ear for dialogue, the humour, and the unsurpassed capacity to...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Commodore
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures, and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. Jack Aubrey's long service is at last rewarded: he...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Wine-Dark Sea
At the opening of a voyage filled with disaster and delight, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin are in pursuit of a privateer sailing under American colours through the Great South Sea. Stephen's objective is to set the revolutionary tinder in South America ablaze to relieve the pressure on the British government, which has blundered into war with the young and...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Reverse of the Medal
Returning from South America, Jack Aubrey finds himself led into the half worlds of the London criminal underground in this most unconventional of Patrick O'Brian's lauded naval tales. The Reverse of the Medal continues the thrilling adventures of Aubrey and his loyal companion, Dr Stephen Maturin, as they navigate treacherous waters, both on sea and land, in this gripping instalment...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Patrick O'Brian's HMS Surprise has garnered praise for its vibrant writing and masterful storytelling. Critics have likened O'Brian to the Homer of the Napoleonic Wars, noting his exceptional ability to create an immersive and believable world. The book is lauded for its exciting narrative, authenticity, and the depth of its characters, making it a thrilling adventure and a remarkable piece of literature.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780006499176
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 06 January 1997
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: HarperCollins
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 26.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 300g
Pages: 416
About the Author
Patrick O'Brian, one of our greatest contemporary novelists, is the author of the acclaimed Aubrey/Maturin tales and the biographer of Joseph Banks and Picasso. His first novel, Testimonies, and his Collected Short Stories have recently been republished by HarperCollins. In 1995, he was the first recipient of the Heywood Hill Prize for a lifetime's contribution to literature. In the same year he was awarded the CBE. In 1997 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of letter by Trinity College, Dublin. He died in January 2000 at the age of 85.
Also by Patrick O’Brian
View all-
20% off
Master and Commander
Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian is the enthralling first instalment in the acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin series, celebrated as one of the finest collections of historical novels ever penned. The story sets sail in the early 19th century during the Napoleonic Wars and introduces the reader to Captain Jack Aubrey RN and Dr Stephen Maturin, a ship’s surgeon with a covert...Paperback$2000Usually:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Hundred Days
'If we had only two or three of O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series, we would count ourselves lucky; with six or seven the author would be safely among the greats of historical fiction. But this is his nineteenth volume!' WILLIAM WALDEGRAVE, Literary Review Following the extraordinary success of The Yellow Admiral, this latest Aubrey-Maturin novel brings alive the sights and sounds of...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
20% off
The Mauritius Command
In The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian, the enthralling adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey and his close confidante, Stephen Maturin, continue with a mission of unparalleled complexity and danger. When Aubrey finds himself ashore on half-pay and devoid of a command, his spirits are lifted by the arrival of Maturin, who doubles as a covert intelligence agent with pivotal orders....Paperback$2000Usually:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Treason’s Harbour
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. Uniquely among authors of naval fiction, Patrick O'Brian allows...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Yellow Admiral
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures, and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. The Yellow Admiral—the eighteenth novel in the sequence hailed...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Desolation Island
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. Commissioned to rescue Governor Bligh of Bounty fame, Captain...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Far Side of the World
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. It is still the War of 1812. Patrick O'Brian...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Clarissa Oakes
The fifteenth Aubrey-Maturin novel in which Jack finds himself reunited with the Surprise, but dangerously out of touch with his crew. All the elements that have made Patrick O'Brian's astonishing series one of the most highly praised works in contemporary fiction are here in Clarissa Oakes—the narrative grip, the impeccable ear for dialogue, the humour, and the unsurpassed capacity to...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Commodore
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. All eighteen books are being re-issued in hardback by HarperCollins with stunning new jackets to coincide with a new film based on the adventures, and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation. Jack Aubrey's long service is at last rewarded: he...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Wine-Dark Sea
At the opening of a voyage filled with disaster and delight, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin are in pursuit of a privateer sailing under American colours through the Great South Sea. Stephen's objective is to set the revolutionary tinder in South America ablaze to relieve the pressure on the British government, which has blundered into war with the young and...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Uncertain Land and Other Poems
The first ever collection of poems by the acclaimed author of the Aubrey/Maturin series of Napoleonic naval adventures. As we have stood with Jack and Stephen on the deck of the Surprise and other ships, readers around the world have been transported to a place and time at once familiar and exotic, routine and dramatic. At all times, Patrick O’Brian’s...Paperback$5000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
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...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
More from General Fiction
View all-
The Wedding People
'BEST READ OF THE YEAR SO FAR' THE TIMES 'BOOKS AS FUN AS THIS ONE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN' GUARDIAN Phoebe Stone arrives at a grand beachside hotel in Rhode Island wearing her best dress and least comfortable shoes. Immediately she is mistaken for one of the wedding people — but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall...Paperback$2399Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Buy to WinDungeon Crawler Carl
The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman-now with bonus material exclusive to the print edition! You know what's worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what's worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseBig Little Truths
Parenting teens is not for the faint of heart but Madeline, Jane and Celeste have been through worse. It's been a decade since the school trivia night that changed their lives forever and now they're living blissfully ordinary suburban lives. But when an anonymous grisly package arrives at the local high school, and a man in a green Volvo is...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Theo of Golden
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING PHENOMENON'For anything to be truly good, there must be love in it. Nothing is what it's supposed to be if love is not at the core.' One morning, a stranger arrives in the town of Golden. No one knows who he is or where he came from…His name is Theo and he's arrived there by chance –...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Throne of Glass Box Set (Paperback)
Enter the realm. Unleash the darkness. Live the legend. Discover the worldwide phenomenon of the #1 New York Times-bestselling Throne of Glass series in this gorgeous 8-book box set! In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not...Set$12400Elsewhere:$15500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseThe Ballad of Falling Dragons [Special Deluxe edition]
The No.1 Sunday Times bestselling sensation When the Moon Hatched continues with the second book in The Moonfall Series, The Ballad of Falling Dragons… Raeve’s thirst for vengeance continues to burn, as does her love for Kaan Vaegor – a staunch beacon from a past she’s yet to face. With Rekk’s blood still fresh on her hands, she learns the...Hardback$5999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Goal
Welcome to Briar U!Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy!Read The Goal now for the perfect forced proximity romance! She's good at achieving her goals . . . College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Buy to Win17% offProject Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...Paperback$2000Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseOn Mystic Lake
One of the greatest storytellers of our time - Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing Annie Colwater's only child has just left home for school in England. On that same day, her husband of twenty years confesses that he's in love with a younger woman. Left alone in the beautiful California house which was once a home, Annie...Paperback$3100Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Buy to WinEast of Eden
Set against the backdrop of the fertile Salinas Valley in California, East of Eden is a profound and compelling novel by John Steinbeck, one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. This masterful narrative charts the intertwining destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—across multiple generations. Steinbeck's intricate portrayal of human nature and enduring exploration of moral themes...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Buy to WinCarl's Doomsday Scenario
Join Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat Princess Donut as they fight fantastical creatures and deadly mobs in the second book in the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl series -now with bonus material exclusive to the print edition Now on the third floor, Carl and Donut have to fight harder than ever. They've already proven that a Coast Guard vet and once-and-forever...Hardback$4699Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set
Embark on a journey through Middle-earth with J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless masterpieces, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. These enthralling tales recount the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a modest hobbit whose life is turned upside down when he unwittingly becomes entwined in a perilous quest involving dragons, wizards, and the fate of the world. Alongside iconic characters such as...Box Set$7199Elsewhere:$8999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
General Fiction lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Tim W's listGeneral Fiction
10 Books You Can Finish in a Weekend
Sometimes we want a great read, but not a huge commitment. These are 10 books you can pick up on Friday and...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Hannah's listGeneral Fiction
Gothic Reads for Dark Nights
With the advent of movie adaptations like Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein, it looks like pop culture is seeing a revival of the...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Shirl's listGeneral Fiction
Shirl's Top 10 Most Recommended Books
These are my Top 10 books that I always recommend to my friends and whānau when they ask for recommendations for getting...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listGeneral Fiction
Books to Escape a Reading Slump
A reading slump can be a frustrating feeling and hard to break out of, but we've gathered together a list of crowd...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![Star Shipped]()
Lizzy's listGeneral Fiction
Lizzy's Pride Fiction Picks!
June marks Global Pride Month so in case you're looking for your next great fiction read, here's a list of some of...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listGeneral Fiction
Readers’ Top 100 Novels of All Time - from The Guardian
There was some controversy when The Guardian released their critics and authors list of the top 100 novels of all time, but...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Shirl's listGeneral Fiction
Shirl's Favourite Books of 2026
The first half of 2026 has been packed with brilliant books, making it hard to choose favourites but here are a few...View the list
