The placeholder 12th entry in the Aubrey-Maturin series, The Letter of Marque moves the story forward without an undue amount of excitement. The main distinction of this book is that the Surprise is now a privateer rather than a Navy ship, due to Aubrey's expulsion from the service in the previous book. The daily routines shift accordingly.
The naval action is concentrated in a long sequence where Aubrey and his men sneak into a French-held harbor and "cut out" an important ship (that is, board it, cut its anchors, and sail it away). This feat of derring-do, preceded by the taking of a big prize and followed by Aubrey inheriting his father's estate, sets the stage for a return to the service and to the series status quo.
The book ends with Stephen Maturin visiting his estranged wife Diana, so they can at last work through the misunderstandings that have piled up over the past few books. The unlikelihood of Maturin's character (surgeon, naturalist, and spy) notwithstanding, I have to say that Diana and her relationship with Stephen are the least convincing aspect of these books.
The naval action is concentrated in a long sequence where Aubrey and his men sneak into a French-held harbor and "cut out" an important ship (that is, board it, cut its anchors, and sail it away). This feat of derring-do, preceded by the taking of a big prize and followed by Aubrey inheriting his father's estate, sets the stage for a return to the service and to the series status quo.
The book ends with Stephen Maturin visiting his estranged wife Diana, so they can at last work through the misunderstandings that have piled up over the past few books. The unlikelihood of Maturin's character (surgeon, naturalist, and spy) notwithstanding, I have to say that Diana and her relationship with Stephen are the least convincing aspect of these books.
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