A short life of the author
Patrick O’Brian (1914–2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was a British novelist whose twenty-volume Aubrey-Maturin series is considered the supreme achievement in historical naval fiction. Beginning with Master and Commander (1969) and concluding with the unfinished 21 (published posthumously in 2004), the series follows Captain Jack Aubrey, RN, and his friend Dr. Stephen Maturin through the Napoleonic Wars.
The novels are remarkable for their historical accuracy, their rich and allusive prose, and their deep characterisation of the friendship between the extroverted, musically gifted Aubrey and the introspective, polyglot Maturin. O’Brian recreated the world of the Royal Navy with an authority that drew praise from naval historians and literary critics alike.
The series attracted a devoted following, particularly after an influential 1991 review by Richard Snow in The New York Times Book Review. Peter Weir’s 2003 film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe, brought O’Brian to a wider audience.
Collecting O’Brian
Master and Commander (1969, Collins) first editions in fine condition with dust jacket are among the most valuable modern first editions, bringing $10,000–$30,000+. The first three titles in the series, published before O’Brian’s fame, had very small print runs and are correspondingly scarce. Later volumes are more accessible. Complete sets of first editions are a trophy of modern book collecting. UK editions precede US editions and are preferred by collectors.