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Title: Harbors and High Seas: An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian by Dean King, John B. Hattendorf, William J. Clipson, Jeffrey Ward, Adam Merton Cooper ISBN: 0805059482 Publisher: Owl Books Pub. Date: May, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.85
Rating: 5
Summary: Indispensible Companion
Comment: I'm now on book 7 of the Aubrey-Maturin series, and have only had my Companion for the last 2...how much it adds to the joy and the education. The best part of the companion is the maps, with clearly marked routes taken by Lucky Jack's vessels. O'Brian's description of Aubrey passing by Elsinore while Jack describes his role in Hamlet as a young midshipman comes alive with both the map and the picture of Elsinore. As well, eliminating the frustration of trying to determine what is fiction (Grimsholm) from what is not (Admiral Suamarez) greatly adds to the historical learnings.
The only downside to having this companion is the irresistable temptation to read ahead...the plot lines of the first 17 books are all given in general outline. As O'Brian readers know, however, much of the joy is as much in the characterization and writing as in the plot line. So, even if you do look ahead, it in all likelihood only will increase your desire to move on to the next book....I personally can hardly wait to get to Treason's Harbour and the mood that O'Brian will create around historic Malta.
If you love maps, though, and have always used them to add a visual learning dimension and reference to the words, you can't possibly read the books without it.
In closing, I guess I should add the warning that as addictive as these books are, they become even more addictive with the companion.
Beware!
Rating: 2
Summary: Disappointing
Comment: I am very disappointed with Dean King's efforts here. Where is this great prodigy of maps that the book seems to promise? Much of the book is taken up with summaries of PO'B's novels. If I want to know what happened in the books I will read them, I don't need to pay 21 American dollars for that. And most of the content that is not summary is written descriptions entitled 'Here and There'. Can Mr. King possibly think his accounts will succeed in enabling we hopeless lubbers to comprehend intricate harbors and locations where the great O'Brian's have not? In the Post Captain chapter, do we find a map of Chaulieu where Aubrey fights the Polychrest until she sinks under him? No we do not. This book should be filled cover to cover with detailed charts and maps. It falls far and sadly short of expectations. I urge anyone not having been duped into purchasing it already to refrain from doing so.
Rating: 5
Summary: A splendid sidekick to have along with Aubrey & Maturin
Comment: Once in awhile just the right writer comes along for a critical assignment, and this time it is Dean King, accompanied by some other worthy contributors. A globe isn't nearly enough when you're sailing, fighting, surviving and adventuring with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, and it mattered not to me that King had to wait until there were sufficient chapters in O'Brian's incredible series (one that I look upon as one great, great book with 19 chapters) to form an adequate foundation for Harbors and High Seas, for I read them over and over and King's guide makes the repeat servings even more delightful.
Now as I travel the world in the O'Brian series I know where I am and where I've been -- and often where I'm going. The maps are outstanding (I always thought a map here and there in the novels themselves was called for), and King's narrative takes me ashore in places all over the aquatic world to round out my adventures with my favorite literary characters.
The old pictures from The Naval Chronicle are worthy -- and thoughtful -- additions to the whole fine work.
I guess I'll be reading Aubrey/Maturin books forever, and with Harbors and High Seas right at hand. Too bad the guide had to end with The Commodore but, hey, I'm not complaining. I'm happy for what's here.
Thanks to King, too, for his lexicon, A Sea of Words. That was the finishing touch for the O'Brian addict that I am -- I want to KNOW what a studding sail is, a snow (for I, like Maturin, thought a "snow" must be a white ship), the mainchains (not "chains" at all), the messenger (definitely not a means by which you might get a message to Garcia) . . .
A tip of the hat and a warm thank you to Dean King and his cohorts: John B. Hattendorf, J. Worth Estes, and mapmakers William Clipson and Adam Merton Cooper.
It is truly wonderful that this incredible series of historical novels has inspired these indispensible accompaniments. There is also the volume edited by A.E. Cunningham, "Patrick O'Brian: Critical Essays and a Bibliography" which belongs on the shelf with every O'Brian fan's collection. These books about O'Brian's books are a further testimony to the greatness of them -- they stood tall on their own, it's only that they're even more robust now.
Doug Briggs
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Title: A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O'Brian's Seafaring Tales by Dean King, John B. Hattendorf, J. Worth Estes ISBN: 0805066152 Publisher: Owl Books Pub. Date: October, 2000 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Persons, Animals, Ships and Cannon in the Aubrey-Maturin Sea Novels of Patrick O'Brian by Anthony Gary Brown ISBN: 0786406844 Publisher: McFarland & Company Pub. Date: July, 1999 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 0393307050 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: November, 1990 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Post Captain by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 0393307069 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: November, 1990 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Treason's Harbour by Patrick O'Brian ISBN: 0393308634 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: April, 1992 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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