Book #39: The Fortune of War *audiobook*

I'm chomping through audiobooks at the moment, far more quickly than I'm physically reading. I think as it's getting warmer, it's taking me longer to drop off to sleep, so I listen for longer, meaning a 12 hour book, rather than taking 12 days as it used to, may take 4 days instead! I'm not worried about running out of books on audiobook however, the library service has a lot, and I might find one that is so dry it could send me to sleep sooner!!!

So my next instalment of the Aubrey & Maturin series, book number 6. I recall being a bit disappointed in how the previous book had ended, however I was glad to see the storyline pretty much carries on in The Fortune of War.

It cuts out the boring bits, and begins as Jack's ship HMS Leopard arrives in the Dutch East Indies, where he is given new orders to return to England to take up command of HMS Acasta. Stephen learn that his counter-intelligence scheme has been a success at this point as well.

They board a dispatch vessel, commanded by one of Jack's childhood friends and begin the long journey back to England, where they learn of the beginning of the War of 1812. The bad luck that plagued the Leopard accompany Jack on this voyage back, as around Brazil, their ship catches fire, causing the crew to abandon ship. After a few weeks at sea, Jack's little boat is rescued by HMS Java, which is, typically, heading in the opposite direction. However, Java engages, and is defeated by the USS Constitution, with Jack becoming wounded. The Constitution returns to Boston to refit and Jack is left to convalesce in the hospital.

In Boston, they are reunited with Michael Herapath (Stephen's assistant surgeon who left at the end of Desolation Island with Louisa Wogan) and Diana Villiers, Jack's cousin by marriage and the subject of Stephen's affections. Jack is suspected of being a spy, however manages to deflect attention away from him. Stephen is not so lucky, with several attempts to abduct him made by French intelligence agents. However, Stephen too is lucky as he kills the two main French agents, becoming trapped in Diana's rooms in the process.

A daring escape plan is put in place and Stephen, Jack and Diana reach HMS Shannon in the harbour of Boston. The USS Chesapeake is dispatched in an apparent pursuit of the fugitives, and engages HMS Shannon. The battle lasts just 15 minutes, with the USS Chesapeake becoming a prize for HMS Shannon.

I remember writing a few reviews back, that O'Brian's novels are a bit stagnant when they're mainly set on land. However I take it back, as The Fortunes of War was brilliant! Lots of intrigues, twists and turns and plenty of action. There are two well described sea battles, with triumph and defeat experienced.

There's a good switch of conflict as well, until now, the enemy has been the French. However we now see a brand new theatre of war open up, with war against the United States. It's good to be able to finally put down a date, as previous books haven't had much in the way of dates to go by, it's nice to see that this book finishes at least on 1st June 1812.

I liked the further exploration of the relationship between Stephen and Jack, and the greater depths that the books go into the spying and intrigue side of the war. I do hope that Jack manages to get home to his young family soon!

The Fortune of War: 3cm

Total Read so far: 39 books, 118.5cm

Total left to read: 74.5cm