Treason's Harbour - Patrick O'Brian

A fine performance by Stephen Thorne...

Irish, Italian, French accents; the stolid, sensible, sometimes bewildered vowels of Jack Aubrey; the Cornish vocals of the crew and poetry, sea shanties. Stephen Thorne brings all these to life and transports us to the world of the 19th Century Navy.

This is the first O'Brian novel I've listened to. The plot is somewhat incomplete - if considered as an action story - but it is much more than that. The real action is in the minds' of the spies and counter-intelligence agents, including Maturin.

It is a stellar accomplishment with characterisation, description and conversation a treat to the ear and mind. There are shades of Austen and Dickens and wonderful descriptions of commanding, and managing, a square-rigged fighting vessel, the most complex machine prior to the industrial revolution.

I'm a sailor so I fully-understand the engaging description of the battle against the French ship-o'-the-line and two frigates and the skill with which Aubrey brings to bear in sailing himself out of trouble.

And the wonderful loblolly boy, bringing succour to the sick bay! This works on so many levels with O'Brian's very original language structure and switching of ideas from politics to sailing, psychology to botany, all lit-up with a fabulous understanding of the era. A great read/listen for anyone!

Another great Aubrey/Maturin story

A great story of intrigue and naval action in the mediterranean / red sea. Highly recommended, however if you're getting it take away on holiday, be sure to get the next book, as the story is not completely resolved in this book, (I haven't read the next one "Far Side of the World" yet, so I don't know if it gets resolved there either). Oh well, off to order the next one...

Aubrey and Maturin in Malta

Like certain films, certain books just cheer the spirits and every Aubrey/Maturin book acts like a balm upon me. As I finish one it is gratifying to know there are plenty more to come. Treason's Harbour sits somewhere in the middle of the series and for the first time reader of O'Brian's treasures, it might stand as a perfect example of the author's mastery and charm. There seems to be subtle changes of structure; and the balance between the various elements of the story are almost perfect. Comedy, drama and intrigue all take their turn and as an addict, I was sure as I read, that it was the best yet. Anyone who has enjoyed the intense and vivid hues of a Mediterranean holiday, will see those colours bright and clear, in the descriptions of the blue and white breaking beneath the hull of the Surprise. For sheer reading pleasure, it has to be O'Brian.

Interesting period piece, but Hornblower is better.

Treason's Harbour is an extremely slow paced story of mild intrigue in Malta. The period details sound a bit strained--would Jack Aubrey really treat his diamond headband so recklessly? And the two minor naval engagements seem thrown in for no other reason than to justify the cover. I certainly feel that I know more about eighteenth century music parties of the Mediterranean than I have any business knowing. Overall, the novel was not terrible, but I wish I'd re-read a Hornblower novel instead.

Excellent: Like 19th Century Le Carre Novel

A good change of pace for O'Brian. His characters get involved in the intrigues on land and an interesting side trip by sea and land. Some readers often accuse these books of dragging, when the characters hit the beach, while accelerating in action and interest once they go to sea again. This book breaks that pattern very well. Highly recommended to solid Aubry/Maturin fans, and to readers of Le Carre novels, too. Deep, dark stuff.