The yellow admiral

261 pages

English language

Published Nov. 1, 1996 by W.W. Norton.

ISBN:
978-0-393-04044-9
Copied ISBN!

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (5 reviews)

The Yellow Admiral is the eighteenth naval historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by English author Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1996. The story is set in the era of the Napoleonic Wars. The ships of his squadron are dispersed by the Admiralty as Aubrey's two missions (to the slave coast of Africa and up to Ireland's west coast) were completed and Aubrey is no longer a commodore. Captain Aubrey is left in command of HMS Bellona. He sails her on blockade duty around Brest, France, under an admiral who dislikes him for actions on land and makes trouble for Aubrey in the Royal Navy. On land, he is settled in Woolcombe, the family estate, where he has powers as lord of the manor. Aubrey's financial troubles are eased by his capture of a prize. Dr Maturin retrieves his family but not his fortune, and they settle in an empty …

7 editions

Review of 'The yellow admiral' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Repeated from review of Book 1

That Patrick O'Brian chose to place his characters on the sea in the not so distant past just raised the hurdle I had to leap to get to know this wonderful author.

I had never been enamored with sea stories, didn't much care for European history, and yet was wonderfully taken with this series. The sea is a major character, but history is not greatly illuminated, almost a backdrop to the specific circumstance the characters find themselves in. Which perhaps reflects the author's view, while the wide sweep of Europe's history progresses, men are left to deal with far smaller local problems.

And it is in men that O'Brian shines. O'Brian creates characters flawed enough to be human, without becoming base. Not the best of men, but rising to better as circumstance demands.

And while the author leaves the great sweep of history largely …

avatar for lattermild

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bentreegecko

rated it

4 stars
avatar for recri

rated it

4 stars

Subjects

  • Maturin, Stephen (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
  • Aubrey, Jack (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
  • Ship physicians -- Fiction
  • Ship captains -- Fiction
  • Great Britain -- History, Naval -- 19th century -- Fiction