Order of Aubrey/Maturin Books
The Aubrey/Maturin series is a series of nautical historical novels by English novelist Patrick O’Brian. The series follows Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy and Dr. Stephen Maturin, the ship’s surgeon. The two are great friends. The series adapts true historical events as part of the story. O’Brian has a distinct style that has led to the series receiving considerable acclaim. The Russell Crowe film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World used adapted elements from several different novels in the series into the film.
The Aubrey/Maturin books began with Master and Commander in 1970. 20 more books would be published over the next 34 years, including one that was unfinished by the time of O’Brian’s death (21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey). The series has the same chronological order as its publication order. Below is a list of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin books in order of when they were originally released:
Publication Order of Aubrey/Maturin Books
| Master and Commander | (1969) |    |
| Post Captain | (1972) | |
| H.M.S. Surprise | (1973) | |
| The Mauritius Command | (1977) | |
| Desolation Island | (1977) | |
| The Fortune of War | (1978) | |
| The Surgeon's Mate | (1980) | |
| The Ionian Mission | (1981) | |
| Treason's Harbour | (1983) | |
| The Far Side of the World | (1984) | |
| The Reverse of the Medal | (1986) | |
| The Letter of Marque | (1988) | |
| The Thirteen-Gun Salute | (1989) | |
| The Nutmeg of Consolation | (1991) | |
| The Truelove / Clarissa Oakes | (1992) | |
| The Wine-Dark Sea | (1993) | |
| The Commodore | (1994) | |
| The Yellow Admiral | (1996) | |
| The Hundred Days | (1998) | |
| Blue at the Mizzen | (1999) | |
| 21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey | (2004) | |
Notes: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey was published as 21 in the United States. Clarissa Oakes was published as The Truelove in the USA.
I have greatly enjoyed these books for sixteen years now, having read them all at least five (or six/) times. I recently discovered at a local library has them on CD, which is great for my daily commute to work. And to my Surprise I have found that I am catching more of the humor in the works (mainly in dialogue with Steven and Jack.)