Malta, in 1813, is ostensibly a safe harbour, yet the island is a nest of French spies, and even those in authority are not to be trusted.
Entrusted with a secret mission, the perils of the South China Sea await.
With factions on board, and multiple enemies to contend with, only the most careful navigation will save them.
For a man of war, peacetime is the ultimate challenge.
Thrown out of the navy for a crime he did not commit, Jack Aubrey has lost everything he held most dear.
On foreign shores, and far from home, a friend can become a foe in a heartbeat.
An enemy frigate is outward bound to play havoc with the vital British whaling trade, and must be stopped at all costs.
Napoleon has escaped from Elba – the Hundred Days have begun.
On dry land, having been drawn into the half-worlds of London’s criminal underground and of government espionage, Jack Aubrey faces perhaps the greatest challenge of his life.
The higher one climbs, the further there is to fall.
Set amongst the rolling vineyards and gentle courtyards of a small seaside village in Catalonia, Patrick O'Brian's second novel is a poignant story of tumultuous love, complex faith and one man's desperate bid to reclaim his humanity.
The first ever collection of poems by the acclaimed author of the Aubrey/Maturin series of Napoleonic naval adventures.