The Ionian Mission
by Patrick O'Brian

At a certain point in this book, Royal Navy Captain Jack Aubrey describes the “ideal” naval battle, as he sees it. Like many other plans and anticipated outcomes throughout this series, that battle never happens. It would be surprising if it did; for, having described it through the thoughts and words of his characters, by letting the actual events meet his characters’ hopes and expectations author O’Brian would be repeating himself. And he was far, far too good a storyteller to do that.

This is the eighth in the series of twenty historical novels that began with Master and Commander. For those of you tuning in late, this series is set in the early 19th century, during the British naval war against Napoleon and his allies. As always, Patrick OÂ’Brian has done his homework, recreating the conditions, culture, language, politics, and technology of a past age and bringing them vibrantly, excitingly to life. If you have read this far in the series, I believe you will find (as I do) that the old-fashioned language and sometimes dense sailing jargon becomes so transparent that you see, hear, and feel the loneliness of a shipÂ’s captain on a long blockade, the tension of a chase, the roar of a battle, and many other things that range from delightful to disturbing.

Many familiar characters – some of them beloved, some of them despised – are back in full force in The Ionian Mission. Naturally the bill is topped by Jack Aubrey, jolly, larger-than-life, a genius at sea and a fool on land; and on an equal footing is his best friend, musical partner, ship’s physician and secret agent, Dr. Stephen Maturin. Two more wholly different individuals can scarcely be imagined, yet it is hard to imagine them being separated for long. Then there are Jack’s adoring but slightly shrewish wife Sophie; Stephen’s new bride (and an odd couple they are); Jack’s followers Pullings, Babbington, and Mowett; his faithful coxswain Bonden; and the captain’s steward Killick, contrary as always. Old Admiral Harte (that son of a blue French fart) is back, and other characters from the past.

But many new arrivals make this novel stand out from the series. Another scholarly intelligence operative arrives...a fearsome Admiral pines for a good battle...agonizingly suspenseful confrontations with the French, troubles with discipline, secret rendezvous gone bad, and desolately dull periods of monotonous blockading fill the first half of the book, set in the Mediterranean. Then the real “Ionian Mission” kicks in when Jack and Stephen become jointly responsible for deciding which of three rival Turkish rulers to back in a quarrel over a fortified harbor town, in hopes of gaining an ally against the French. The book transforms itself into a masterpiece of political intrigue, building up to a climactic battle after which the novel ends so swifly that you are desperate for more!

I am sure I am not the first to point this out, but Patrick O’Brian is not just a dry author of intricately researched historical novels – nor is he merely a writer of naval adventures. You get both, as well as an intimate account of the complexities of his rich characters and their messy, difficult, and yet deeply entertaining lives. These are great books; this is a great book. It is difficult to put down; difficult not to plunge straight into the next book in the series (Treason’s Harbour); and difficult to forget.

Robbie Fischer
USA

Recommended Age: 14+

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