Patrick OBrians Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of historical novels ever written. Patrick OBrian 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 & 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 & his friend Stephen Maturin surgeon & secret agent begin to live the lives of country gentlemen hunting entertaining & 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. Aubreys adventures in escaping from France & the debtors prison will grip the reader as fast as his unequalled actions at sea.