Re-Reading Patrick O'Brian

Introducing ... my dad!

We listened to it on cassette, of course.

I first met Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin on my commute to school in fifth grade. On the recommendation of a friend, my father had borrowed the Patrick Tull Recorded Books edition of Master and Commander from the local library. We were instantly hooked, and to this day, I cannot read Patrick O’Brian’s novels without hearing Tull’s voice in my head.

Of course I know a lot more about the world of Aubrey and Maturin now than I did in fifth grade, so I thought it might be fun to re-read the books and blog about the experience here. I don’t know how far we’ll get, but let’s start with Master and Commander and go from there. You should read (or listen) along!

I have three goals for this series:

1. To enrich the books with historical context.

2. To discuss historical accuracy as appropriate.

3. To talk about O’Brian’s literary achievement.

Context will mean different things in different chapters. I’m not going to address every historical curiosity, but I think I can add some value to your reading experience in a few places.

Historical accuracy is highly overrated. It’s fiction, guys. Relax. But I do admit the question that every reader of O’Brian asks is, “What was it really like?” I’ll do my best to address those sorts of issues, but it can get really tiresome to pick nits.

Those who know me know that I am going to need some help to accomplish goal #3, so I’m pleased to say that my father, Vance Wilson, has agreed to join this blogging enterprise. How appropriate, given where we started!

Dad has published short stories, essays, and a novel. You can read more about him here. He taught English and writing for ~45 years, so I’m confident he’ll have plenty to say about O’Brian the novelist.

We’re hoping to publish about once a week for a while, though our actual jobs will undoubtedly get in the way.

We also know that there’s plenty to read about O’Brian on the internet, not least via the 45,000-strong Patrick O’Brian Appreciation Society and the Gunroom at HMSSurprise.org. I’m sure there’s more out there I haven’t found, and I know there are plenty of books published to help people make sense of both the series and the “world of” Aubrey and Maturin. We are walking on well-trodden ground. Nevertheless, I think we can provide some interesting perspectives that you might not have encountered. I hope you’ll join us.

Coming Monday: O’Brian’s sources.