Patrick OBrians 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 eighth book in the series. Jack Aubrey & Stephen Maturin veterans of many battles return in this novel to the seas where they first sailed as shipmates. But Jack is now a senior Captain commanding a line-of-battle ship sent out to reinforce the squadron blockading Toulon & this is a longer harder colder war than the dashing frigate action of his early days. A sudden turn of events takes him & Stephen off on a hazardous mission to the Greek islands. All his old skills of seamanship & his proverbial luck when fighting against odds come triumphantly into their own. The book ends with as fierce & thrilling an action as any in this magnificent series of novels.