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 thirteenth book in the series. For all Jack Aubrey's life he has triumphed often sensationally over the dangers of the sea & the violence of the enemy. But his rashness his guilelessness his indiscretion have time & time again enabled his rivals to prevent him reaping his just rewards. The nadir was reached in The Reverse of the Medal when the victim of a skilful frame-up he was convicted of fraud & struck off the Navy list just as he was coming within sight of flag rank. The subsequent exposure of the conspiracy coupled with his brilliant success in command of a privateer had brought him to a position where Their Lordships were more or less bound to reinstate him. This as the present book opens they have done & he & his old friend Dr Maturin are sailing on a secret mission with a h&-picked crew most of them shipmates from the adventures & lucrative voyages of earlier years.