Patrick O' Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of their beginning with Master & Commander these evocative stories are being re-issued in paperback with smart new livery. This is the seventeenth book in the series. Jack Aubrey's long service is at last rewarded: he is promoted to the rank of Commodore & given a squadron of ships to comm&. His mission is twofold
- to make a large dent in the slave trade off the coast of Africa & on his return to intercept a French fleet set for Bantry Bay with a cargo of weapons for the disaffected among the Irish. Invention & surprise follow at every turn in this tale of nineteenth-century seamanship as rich as compelling as masterly as any of its predecessors.