The swashbuckling novels of Patrick O’Brian and C.S. Forester owe much of their inspiration to one man: Lord Cochrane, a seafaring Scot whose life was marked by adventure, adulation and scandal. David Cordingly reports. The Real Master […]
At the core of Patrick O’Brian’s works are the characters of Lucky Jack Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin, and their “study-in-contrasts” friendship. The friendship between Jack and Stephen is one of the most vivid and […]
Upon first starting this website I also started something I called The Aubreyad Press Gang to do a group read of the series. We got through the first and second novels before the project fell […]
Commodore (soon to be Admiral) Lord Nelson explains his boarding party’s actions during the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, when they took the San Josef and he received her surrender. The soldiers of the 69th, […]
Captain Robert Calder of HMS Victory arrived at the Admiralty on March 8th 1797 with dispatches from Admiral Sir John Jervis: Victory, in Lagos Bay, February 16th, 1797. Sir, The hopes of falling in with […]
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was one of the most important naval battles of the early Napoleonic War, one which led to Admiral Sir John Jervis being created Earl St. Vincent (the very same […]
The following is an excerpt from some promotional material about the filming of the movie. It explains the retrofitting the Rose underwent to become the HMS Surprise as well as some of the techniques used […]
A look at the making of what many have called the most historically accurate Napoleonic era movie ever filmed on land or sea. May God set a flower upon Peter Weir’s head!
One aspect of Napoleonic naval warfare that is somewhat difficult for denizens of the modern age to comprehend is the position of Royal Marines on Royal Navy ships. Throughout the Aubrey/Maturin series, we have the […]
“Well. And promotion means a great deal to you, so?” “Of course it does. There never was an officer worth a farthing that did not long to succeed and hoist his flag at last.” – Conversation […]
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