The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (Vol. Book 21) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)

-The last book in a 20+ series. Unfortunately, the author died while writing the conclusion, and the story never became developed. You leave feeling totally "teased" and disappointed. Better to not even begin this "book".

The publisher DID try to help by including his hand-written notes, but on a Kindle, those notes are completely unreadable and useless. This book is worse than a total waste of money (-Never said that before (sigh)).

Sweet but poignant. How lovely to have even a few more chapters of Jack Aubrey's story. Just makes you yearn for someone with enough talent to take it forward. The manuscript portion is a very tough read...O'Brian's handwriting is even worse than mine!

This shows signs of being rushed to print, including obvious typos in the printed text. Conceivably, these were O'Brian's typos in his typescript and the publisher diligently reproduced them, but that seems unlikely at best. It's also disappointing that the publisher couldn't find someone to transcribe the final pages of the handwritten draft reproduced here; presumably time and money were issues.

The manuscript at the end is illegible on my eReader. Having gotten a hard copy from the library, it is still hard reading as Patrick O'Brian's penmenship is difficult to read. I LOVE HIS "GIFT of words" to the world...and I will again begin sailing through his 1-20 novels, again and again. May you, too, enjoy his gift.

After reading the entire series in order and liking it very much I found this not to my liking. Three chapters and as it was unfinished goes no where. There are his handwritten pages at the end and then the authors discussion of Patrick O'Brian, which is his opinion. I recommend this book only for the reader who can't let go of a great author.

bad attempt to save a badly written series to begin with,one is supposed to read hand written notes?,and then the printed word?,in an attempt to save what little there was that the author left?,don't waste your money

the story was thin. it was poorly put together. an editor for the pubshler should have sorted through the material and made a short story of it. this poor excuse for a book, is total shit and should have never been published.

This is pale shadow of the previous books. About 56 unedited pages plus 20 or more illegible script pages. Disjointed narrative. Badly needs editing and put totally in typescript. Only for the most serious followers of Aubrey and Maturin. David Herring

For the sale price, you receive a very half baked chapters without any sense of plot or direction. No compelling conflicts, missions, strategies, characters come to life, just a bare and partial set-up to an unknown middle and ending. It's not a book. I'm not sure what it is.

Well, here we are, the end, (although really beyond the end) of the Aubrey / Maturin series. Although Mr O'Brian should really have quit while he was ahead as the entire series dropped off / faded away (becalmed in the doldrums even) after 'Far Side of the World', the second half of this mega series was still a reasonable read (on top of a fantastic and unequalled 10 book run) and so it is very sad to read this, the unfinished voyage of Jack Aubrey.

Although we will never know for sure the essence of the meat which would have padded out these precious few bones, in general, Jack, now a Blue Admiral, is given the task of heading a squadron to guard British shipping on the far eastern trade route, using the Cape as their base. But really, this book is all about letting us in on the initial construction of this work, sadly unfinished due to the passing of Patrick O'Brian; beyond this is down to the literary experts as well as keen readers, who can only guess at what the mini episodes / chapters / full plot would have been. But it is much believed by many that Old Bony would have featured, by way of a meeting with Jack and / or Stephen.

But, and you also get this feeling after Blue at the Mizzen, it is like Mr O'Brian has become Jack (Waldegrave believes this very strongly), and I got and still get an image of a Mr Chips type character, a very tired Mr O'Brian drifting away in his chair at home, while all the characters he created, wrote about and loved appear in front of him, (with Stephen standing to one side, smiling) take off their hats and smile and give their name. . .

"James Dillon, sir, first lieutenant." - "Tom Pullings, Sir, first lieutenant." - "William Babbington, sir, first lieutenant." - "William Mowett, master's mate, sir, oh, and struggling poet." -"Barret Bonden, sir, coxswain." - "Joe Plaice, sir, able." - "Preserved Killick, sir, steward; coffee you say? In which it is getting cold on the table, sir." - "Awkward Davies, sir, able seaman, bloodthirsty axeman, sir, pardon the froth at the side of my mouth." - ...."Sorry I'm late sir, William Reade, skipper of the Ringle, with a message from Captain Dundage."

Of course there are many more to the above, not forgetting the women at home (and in port), and the occasional characters popping up for a few of the tales or even just 1. I know to do this or even the above is not strictly in review format, but what the heck - (and I wish I could have said this to him when he passed on, 7 years ago now), thank you, Mr O'Brian, you were a good'un.

Patrick O'Brian's unfinished twenty-first novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series was released four years after his death. Although at first I was hesitant to read an unfinished manuscript for many reasons, as a fan of the series, I am very happy to have had the opportunity to get one last glimpse of Admiral Aubrey and Dr. Maturin - and get a tiny glimpse inside Patrick O'Brian's creative process.

The released novel includes only three chapters of the final book. The typeset pages face counterpart copies of Patrick O'Brian's hand-written manuscript, including strike-throughs and other changes.

The Aubrey-Maturin books are quite simply the best fiction I've ever read. I enjoy them so much that I find it difficult to read any other fiction now.

Although there are twenty (completed) Aubrey-Maturin novels, in a sense they are one long, unending story. O'Brian tells the story of an unlikely pair of friends in early 19th century Britain: a hard-charging Royal Navy captain and an Irish physician and naturalist (and British spy). Both are devoted, for different reasons, to the fight against Napoleonic France. Captain Jack Aubrey and Doctor Stephen Maturin are dedicated friends, and the interplay between this unlikely pair is ranges from deep philosophical discussions to intended and unintended humor.

But what really makes these novels is Patrick O'Brian's writing style. Through his words, he paints wonderful pictures and creates real characters in brilliant narratives; which is good, because Aubrey and many of his exploits are based on real-life adventures during the Napoleonic Wars.

Reading this unfinished novel helps the reader believe that Aubrey and Maturin are still alive and know that, had he not died, Patrick O'Brian had more plans for the Aubrey with his admiral's flag and his entire family. This release is for true devotees of the series.

What a treasure this book is. Not only does Aubrey finally hoist his flag, but he and Maturin begin another adventure - one that will not end, but nonetheless a fitting departure.

Of equal interest to those who have followed the series is the mix of handwritten text with typescript that has gone through a first stage of revisions. You can actually see how O'Brian assembled the pieces of each chapter, notes to himself to add this detail or to flesh out that one, even a diagram of how the characters were placed as they sat around the table at dinner. Some observers believe that for outstanding writers such as Patrick O'Brian, these stories spring from his thoughts, practically complete at first blush. The handwritten text shows that excellent writing is very hard work.

This is clearly not the way for O'Brian newcomers to begin their acquaintance with Aubrey, Maturin, their families, the Surprise, Killick, or any other aspect of the series. It takes good eyes and tenacious dedication to read the handwritten manuscript. It is all still too raw to make a lot of sense for those fresh to this sea.

But for those who have read and reread this series, perhaps listened to the audio book versions, who have purchased Geoff Hunt prints and who, despite misgivings, saw "Master and Commander" in the theater, "21" cannot be missed.

It may have been better if this very imperfect first portion of the next A-M novel had never seen the light of day; as other reviewers have noted, it is rough and clearly has not seen the refinement and backfilling that is so evident in the rest of the series (for example, poor Wantage, sewed into his hammock and sent over the side in Blue at the Mizzen, is resurrected to help out with the same fluency in Portugese that cost him so dearly in the past). Yet all of us who have lost ourselves in O'Brian's world can't help but love even this limited glimpse of what happens next. It's like unexpectedly running into dear friends at an airport and getting only the sketchiest update of their lives before losing touch with them forever -- far from satisfying but oh so much better than not seeing them at all. Despite the joy of even these two chapters, it seems like the publishers could have given us the benefit of putting into type the final manuscript pages for ease of reading. But that's nit-picking. I am happy to have had the chance to view this final work in progress of a gifted, dedicated writer who has enriched my life.

I had just finished the 20th novel yesterday, BLUE AT THE MIZZEN, and then read this book, which came out just in time for me to finish THE AUBREYIAD.

The book has both a copy of the handwritten manuscript, and a typed up version of the work that O'Brian was able to revise before he died. The manuscript has more of the story that O'Brian didn't have time to revise, so about 5 pages are only found in manuscript form, and they aren't typed up. I really wish that the publisher had typed up these last 5 pages of the manuscript, because some of the manuscript is unreadable. The untyped manscript covers a duel, and would really make excellent reading. I'm afraid I don't have Dr. Maturin's ability to decode.

It is easy to find fault with the presentation. I agree with the earlier reviews that it would have been much better to have the final few pages typed out. The publisher's reason for not doing so is a crock. I never read these books because of the "art" (although I am amazed at the level craft, skill and beauty of the work that POB did over the years) I read them for the story of the world and friendship of Aubrey and Maturin.

21, like all the previous novels in this series, transported me to that world and immersed me in it. I was grateful for a last glimpse into a world that, while I can and will revisit from time-to-time, will never be new and unexplored again. Patrick O'Brian was a master and we'll be lucky indeed if we ever see his like again.

I know there has been controversy over the release of this unfinished work, but too sound completely selfish I am so glad to have it.

To see how Mr O'Brian worked through his drafts to a final story is fascinating. Yes, it will take some work to read the manuscript pages, but it's a treasure hunt, not a drudgery in my mind.

If you read and enjoyed the first 20 books, you will want this one; the characters are all present, the humor is there and it's a glorious last taste of the genius that was Patrick O'Brian.

Truely Patrick O'Brian's final voyage. After reading the 20 book set I went into mourning while reading the 21st. I have never been so attached to a group of characters as Aubery and Company and of course to their creator. The 21st book, O'Brian's hand written draft was very personal... and very sad. It is one of my most treasured books.

This final work of Patrick O'Brian leaves one wondering what could have been if? O'Brian's handwriting is, in places, impossible to decipher and can be frustrating. At 114 pages, many of which are blank or less than half filled, this final installment in Jack Aubrey's life at least provides closure for his quest of seeing his flag raised! I am thankful to the publisher for bringing the material to print, but this is one volume that's better borrowed from the library than purchased unless you wish to complete the set!

This belongs as a mere appendix in the giant Patriot O'Brien codex, not as a stand alone book.

This is not the 21st Jack Aubrey book, it is just 65 pages.

Blue at the Mizzen was a fine ending for the series. This book is not needed.

O'Brian died before finishing this. I loved all of the novels in the series, and I am sorry that this is the end. The characters have been so vivid, and the world they inhabit so compelling, that I am sad that it is over. In my opinion these are the finest historical fictions ever written, and they rival the best novels of all time.

just a beautiful unfinished torso of a novel that could have opened a new chapter in the Aubrey-Maturineid.

I quite resented the editors' choice of leaving the final handwritten notes in fac simile, instead of typing them the way one would take for granted six centuries after Gutemberg.

O'Brian's prose reads smoothly as ever , but his handwriting is above me.

Oliviero Fuzzi

I believe fans will be terribly disappointed by the last of the series. The three chapters do little to advance the story; the descriptions are colorless, and the dialogue is flat. It is a mere caricature of the first twenty books. The only thing clear is that O'Brian made significant changes between his first draft and the last.

As his handwriting is unreadable, the publisher shoould have added a transcription of all the text. As the first 20 books were a joy, this was a labor.

Books like this are why some authors put clauses in their wills to have their unfinished manuscripts destroyed. Patrick O'Brian brought great joy to millions of readers with his nautical adventures, and it is a thousand pities that there won't be any more from him. But I can't help but view this book from the POV of the writer. If I were him, I'd no more want someone poking through my in-progress works than I'd want my fans surprising me in my bath. I don't doubt that O'Brian fans have been baying the publisher deaf for unreleased works, but this book is nothing but a cash-in, and should never have been published.

Not long ago my husband planned - and took us both - on a marvelous trip to a previously unknown spot - the former East Germany. He felt it was necessary, in part, to restore my normal good cheer. I was, I realized later, in a state of mourning - or at the sort of loose ends that reflect a great loss in life. In my case, I had all too recently completed the then-final "chapter" (volume 20, I believe) in "The Master and Commander" series. I was bereft and "drifting slowly in weed-infested southern waters".

Gary (my husband) planned our trip meticulously and a brief summary of our agenda, by now repeated by several friends and colleagues, follows:

Coburg - the home of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg, aka Victoria's husband.
Quite a nice little city, hardly bombed at all due to the Coburg/Victoria relationship. Rather too small, but some stunning residential areas and good beer.

Erfurt - a larger town with roots going way back and a very fine medieval city
center with a splendid 12th C. Cathedral (and bridge covered by 32 actual, inhabited buildings) - went through hard times, though not much bombing in WWII, thus, it has kept its looks, which have been refurbished recently.
Erfurt is growing, thanks to Westies who took advantage of the lower prices awhile ago to buy and refurbish some stunning properties, including on the riverfront. Its 12th C. cathedral-on-a-hill is vastly imposing and humbling. The 12th C was the height of such splendid construction.

Weimar - a totally charming small city, which was pretty trashed in WWII, but
has been (and still is) undergoing refurbishing and reconstruction. It was also one of the centers of the Bauhaus, formally located in Dessau which features the real Bauhaus homes of Lional Feininger and Paul Klee, which we visited.

Dessau itself (home to the splendid Baushaus Museum and buildings) was rather forlorn in many ways as it still has many "open scars" from the WWII period or else the reconstruction was quick and at the "supermarket" level rather than the "boutique" level.

Leipzig and Dresden are both highly interesting places to visit. Leipzig has the reputation of being a real party city and also features a fine commercial center with an excellent shopping street. Both of them were hit very hard in WWII and both of them are still being rebuilt in places. Leipzig also has fun shopping (including at its incredible Main Train Station - a must see - where there are also any number of restaurants, takeaways and cafes. Leipzig also has some very entertaining museums.

Dresden also has shopping, but it is above all home to its now-accessible Cathedral, which we bombed to bits. The pile of rubble was left for decades until the Polish experts finished restoring Warsaw and then took on Dresden's Cathedral. Dresden is also a place of tremendous spirit and warmth and THE cultural center of the former East Germany (the museum of fine arts alone - "Die Grüne Gewolbe" houses a vast number of truly brilliant, famous works). The fine arts museum also employs - full-time - its own frame makers and presents excellent films about about specific paintings in its collection. We saw the film about the Vermeer "Young Woman Reading a Letter" - excellent - as well as being a fine introduction of the painting itself. They own more than one Vermeer, lucky them.

Dresden, like Meissen, also produces china of a very high quality.
We visited Meissen and the visitors center exhibition about the
"Manufactury" - the Meissen factory, featuring a number of astonishing
works (as well as serving pieces, cups, etc) and decided against
buying 2 cups and saucers. The Meissen blue-and-white is lovely, but
so is the Dresden green. But we "just said 'no'" and left without
either of them.

The small city of Gorlitz used to be considered a singularly charming
getaway for the weekend. It is on the Neisse River, right across from
Poland. Alas, everyone on the Polish side (it seemed...) headed west
the minute the Wall fell - as did many in Gorlitz itself. So, the town
is in need of both more people and more jobs. It was not hit in the war.

We had the great good luck to be there for a performance of
their utterly SPLENDID and totally awe-inspiring Italian organ (housed since the 1700s in its stunning cathedral). Bach as he should be heard!! That was on a Saturday morning - the day we were heading back to Switzerland. The organist turned out to be - unlike the other 3 organists I have met - a tall, lanky, slightly-unwashed-but-charismatic hippie-type of guy who arrived on a very large motorcycle. It turned out, the guy knew what he was doing and we were all captivated before we ever saw him (at the end of the performance). I still fantasize about him on his motorcycle... My classical musician
boyfriends (2) of the past also had motorcycles and were all slightly unwashed etc. It must be more of an international phenomenon than I thought.

Bamberg was the last place we visited before heading home. It has a number of brewpubs and breweries as well as an American airforce base and a really excellent open-air market. It seems cheerful and prosperous and in good condition. We weren't there long enough for me to have a chat with someone about the wartime experiences of the city, though. But we did pick up some beer from one of the breweries. And yes, I have recovered. But nothing will ever be quite the same as before that "trip" through Patrick O'Brian's 20 volumes of extraordinary prose, dialogue and action. He made it look so easy. But try to write that way and you will see that it just isn't that simple.

Boy, talk about resting on your laurels! Three chapters and some after-dinner scraps of writing and that's it? O'Brian's got a lot of explaining to do if you ask me.

As far as I can tell Aubrey makes admiral but still has to put up with the blow-hard antics of an even higher officer and Maturin, getting soft in his old age, DOESN'T kill some impetuous officer in a duel. And what's with Maturin's homicidal fascination with honor and dueling? Small manly parts, methinks.

"Captain, the surgeon and doctor of our ship is about to engage in a duel over some mispronunciation of a word and if he loses, your ship will be without its medical staff, resulting in disease and death during its voyage."

"Duel? Maturin? Well, let him go ahead and fight to the death. Better that than the welfare of my sailors. Ha Ha Ha."

I hope that O'Brian can pull himself away from whatever he's doing to write a longer 22nd novel. Maybe he'll even take the time to give it a real title.