The Wine-Dark Sea: Amazon.ca: Patrick O'Brian: Books

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11 Reviews

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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4.6 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Wine Dark Sea #16 - by Patrick O'Brian, Aug 3 2011

By

Dr. James T. Rooney (Vancouver Island) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Wine Dark Sea #16 (Paperback)

What a pleasure to read another episode in the life of Aubrey and Maturin and, as usual, I was unable to focus on anything else until I had finished. I also found that I was beginning to speak and think in this colourful and addictive language. I am looking forward eagerly to reading Commodore (#17) which I purchased at the same time.
Of course they were delivered in the usual prompt and efficient manner which I have come to expect from AMAZON.CA

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5.0 out of 5 stars Comment on High Cotton Review, Sep 28 2002

By

JCL "JCL" (Coarsegold, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wine-Dark Sea (Paperback)

The joy of Patrick O'Brian's books is the accuracy of his language among the characters as they speak ("Give you joy!") and the accuracy of the depictions of naval events. This includes accuracy of naval terminology. I have listened to all of these books as Books-On-Tape and often find myself replaying sections to hear the language spoke again. This approach may assist persons like High Cotton "could not get into these books". One of the greatest things about these books is their unparalleled historical accuracy. When you hear a naval battle described, you can be assured it happened just as described. How does the author place a fictional character and fictional ship into real events? Cleverly! Such as by having the hero captured by the enemy and observe the battle from the deck of the enemy's vessel. Or by having the hero's vessel arrive a few minutes behind the actual combatants and not actually taking a role in the action, but seeing and describing it. In one of the books, Capt. Aubrey was called on the carpet at the Admiralty Offices in London for his provisioning of his ship. Indignantly, he recites from memory what "vittels" and other supplies he provisioned his last voyage with. In fact, the author, Patrick O'Brien, was given access to real Admiralty records. What his character Aubrey was reciting was from an actual invoice of provisions for a naval warship during the Napoleanic War. Very interesting stuff if you like history and if you like ships at sea. Highly recommended, especially if you hear the novels read (spoken) rather than reading them. Star Trek fans will love these books!

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2.0 out of 5 stars Too Heavy on Naval Termonology, Oct 4 2001

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high_cotton (Glastonbury, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wine-Dark Sea (Hardcover)

This is the second Aubrey/Maturin book that I have read. I did not enjoy the first one. I figured, however, that I had to give the series another try because Patrick O'Brian has so many fans. I fared no better with this one.
I just cannot get into these books. O'Brian's repeated use of archaic nautical words and phrases is more than distracting. It is overwhelming and it buries the stories. I would suggest staying clear of this stuff unless you are well-versed in 18th century naval termonology.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Aubrey chases a privateer through the South Seas

Another incomparable tale by that master of sea stories, the late Patrick O'Brian. Part of the Aubrey/Maturin series, this one follows the book "The Truelove," which led His... Read more

Published on May 25 2001 by Joseph H Pierre

5.0 out of 5 stars Entering in the middle
As usual, I came into this particular series amidships-but no matter, all and any of the books are wonderful, either individually or in seriatim... Read more

Published on April 23 2001 by Mark D Horowitz

5.0 out of 5 stars Please do not read this book - YET
Why would I recommend not reading this book? The answer is simple; I urge you to start at the beginning and buy Master and Commander, the first book. Read more

Published on July 30 2000 by Stephen P. Kemp

5.0 out of 5 stars Prose as luscious as the South Seas.
The Wine-Dark Sea by Patrick O'Brian

There are few prose stylists writing today who can compare with Patrick O'Brian for the smooth, evocative and fluid stories which come from... Read more

Published on Jun 29 2000 by Stephen Richmond

5.0 out of 5 stars AUTHENTIC GOLD
I once had a creative writing instructor who insisted all ofhis students read one of O'Brian's novels to learn what truly superiorwriting was all about. Read more

Published on Mar 16 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable companion to "The Truelove"
"The Wine Dark Sea" is a slightly misleading title for this exciting continuation of the Aubrey/Maturin books. Read more

Published on Jan 7 2000 by L. Alper

5.0 out of 5 stars As with all O'Brian work - brilliant!
This was my introduction to Patrick O'Brian's work. While it begins a bit slowly, the pace quickens soon after as it thrusts Stephen Maturin into some death-defying intrigue and... Read more

Published on May 8 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Aubrey & Maturin return aboard HMV Surprise
Here is O'Brian's continuation of this great series. Now
returning from almost certain disaster in the Pacific isles,
Aubrey and Maturin are once again aboard HMV... Read more

Published on Jan 16 1996