The Golden Ocean - BookWyrm

English language

Published May 2, 1996

ISBN:: 978-0-393-31537-0

(2 reviews)

The Golden Ocean is a historical novel written by Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1956. It tells the story of a novice midshipman, Peter Palafox, who joins George Anson's voyage around the world beginning in 1740. The story is written much in the language and spelling of the mid-18th century. Palafox is a Protestant Irish boy from the west coast of Ireland, schooled by his father, a churchman, and eager to join the Royal Navy. He learns naval discipline and how to determine his ship's position at sea as part of a large berth of midshipmen on HMS Centurion. His friend Sean O'Mara joins with him, considered his servant initially by officers and put among the seamen, rising in rank as he shows his abilities, to bosun's mate. The book contains a wealth of period detail, and includes historical figures, like Anson, the midshipman Keppel, Mr Walter, the chaplain to …

The Golden Ocean is a historical novel written by Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1956. It tells the story of a novice midshipman, Peter Palafox, who joins George Anson's voyage around the world beginning in 1740. The story is written much in the language and spelling of the mid-18th century. Palafox is a Protestant Irish boy from the west coast of Ireland, schooled by his father, a churchman, and eager to join the Royal Navy. He learns naval discipline and how to determine his ship's position at sea as part of a large berth of midshipmen on HMS Centurion. His friend Sean O'Mara joins with him, considered his servant initially by officers and put among the seamen, rising in rank as he shows his abilities, to bosun's mate. The book contains a wealth of period detail, and includes historical figures, like Anson, the midshipman Keppel, Mr Walter, the chaplain to Anson and kind guide and keeper of the purse for Peter Palafox, and captains of other vessels in the squadron. Reviews in 1994 found it not a mature work from the author, but showing signs of "the Conradian force that shows where O'Brian was headed as a narrative writer." Another reviewer felt this novel showed nearly "all the naval lore and sense of place that grace the Aubrey/Maturin books". It was aimed at younger readers, but two reviewers felt that all readers "will be swept up by the richness of O'Brian's prodigious imagination", and it was "A humorous adventure for all collections."

1 edition

Jonathan Arnold reviewed The Golden Ocean by Patrick O'Brian

Review of 'The Golden Ocean' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

O'Brian's first novel, so it predates the breathtaking Aubrey / Maturin books, which I have read from start to finish. I highly recommend Patrick Tull's Audiobook narration - simply incredible.

This one tells the story of a "wee Irish lad" who signs on as a midshipman. He hasn't even seen the ocean, nevermind actually been aboard a ship. He signed on to the Centurian, Commodore George Anson's boat, and thus was part of one of the most famous journeys of all time - a circumnavigation of the globe, where over 1,800 men started and only 188 finished. Read more about it here on Wikipedia.

In typical O'Brian fashion, he tells the story with panache and accuracy. Every fo'c'sle and top'sl is recounted and the horrors and joys of the trips are covered.

All in all, a real fun book. I really like books that tell a story in …

O'Brian's first novel, so it predates the breathtaking Aubrey / Maturin books, which I have read from start to finish. I highly recommend Patrick Tull's Audiobook narration - simply incredible.

This one tells the story of a "wee Irish lad" who signs on as a midshipman. He hasn't even seen the ocean, nevermind actually been aboard a ship. He signed on to the Centurian, Commodore George Anson's boat, and thus was part of one of the most famous journeys of all time - a circumnavigation of the globe, where over 1,800 men started and only 188 finished. Read more about it here on Wikipedia.

In typical O'Brian fashion, he tells the story with panache and accuracy. Every fo'c'sle and top'sl is recounted and the horrors and joys of the trips are covered.

All in all, a real fun book. I really like books that tell a story in multiple fashions, rather than just a straight third person narrative, and this one sprinkles in letters to home, thinking back across previous months, and other narrative touches that keep it fresh. I know I took a while to finish the book, but it was basically read in two spurts - one towards the end of last summer and then now, as I have resolved to close out books that are in my "Currently Reading" pile. The last half of the book was particularly interesting and action packed.

If you like the Aubrey / Maturin books, then this one is a no brainer. If you haven't tried them yet, this is a good introduction. If you like this even a little bit, then you should certainly begin the amazing main journey of Captain Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. As I said, be sure to give Tull's narration a try. You won't go back!

recri

rated it

Aug. 25, 2013