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Post Captain

Series: Aubrey-Maturin
4.26 goodreads logo

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( 24,813 ratings, 1,397 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
Post Captain by Patrick O'Brian is a captivating tale set during the Napoleonic Wars, following the adventurous journey of Captain Jack Aubrey and his close friend, Dr Stephen Maturin. As they navigate through both maritime battles and complex personal entanglements, the story weaves together elements of naval warfare, friendship, and romance. Rich in historical detail, it provides a gripping exploration of life at sea and the challenges faced by those who dare to sail.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy rich, historical narratives filled with naval adventures and complex characters. As part of a beloved series, it offers a captivating blend of humour, romance, and dramatics set during the Napoleonic Wars. Patrick O'Brian’s meticulous attention to historical detail brings the early 19th century high seas to life.

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Whether on land or at sea, can Jack Aubrey stay one step ahead of his enemies?

The gripping 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 and to introduce these modern classics to a new generation.

Patrick O'Brian is regarded by many as the greatest historical novelist now writing. Post Captain, the second novel in his remarkable Aubrey/Maturin series, led Mary Renault to write: 'Master and Commander raised dangerously high expectations; Post Captain triumphantly surpasses them.'

This tale begins with Jack Aubrey arriving home from his exploits in the Mediterranean to find England at peace following the Treaty of Amiens. He and his friend Stephen Maturin, surgeon and secret agent, begin to live the lives of country gentlemen, hunting, entertaining and enjoying more amorous adventures. Their comfortable existence, however, is cut short when Jack is overnight reduced to a pauper with enough debts to keep him in prison for life.

He flees to the continent to seek refuge: instead he finds himself a hunted fugitive as Napoleon has ordered the internment of all Englishmen in France. Aubrey's adventures in escaping from France and the debtors' prison will grip the reader as fast as his unequalled actions at sea.

Series: Aubrey-Maturin

View all
  • 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
    $2500
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    Ships tomorrow
  • 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...
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    $2300
    Elsewhere:
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    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 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....
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  • 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 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...
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    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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?

Post Captain by Patrick O'Brian is highly praised for its vivid portrayal of the Napoleonic wars, with reviewers comparing O'Brian's descriptive prowess to that of Homer. Critics commend the series for its thrilling historical adventure, imbued with realism and engaging enthusiasm. O'Brian's writing is celebrated for its ability to illuminate the English literary canon, offering enjoyment to those who revel in expertly crafted historical fiction.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780006499169

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 October 1996

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HarperCollins

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 350g

Pages: 512

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 were recently 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 letters by Trinity College, Dublin. He died in January 2000 at the age of 85.

Also by Patrick O’Brian

View all
  • 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
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 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
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
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    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Catalans
    Set amongst the rolling vineyards and gentle courtyards of a small seaside village in Catalonia, Patrick O'Brian's second novel is a poignant story of tumultuous love, complex faith, and one man's desperate bid to reclaim his humanity. Summoned from his medical practice in China by a bevy of anxious aunts, Alain Roig returns to his Catalan hometown to discover he...
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  • 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    Available
    Ships 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...
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