Blue at the Mizzen: Aubrey-Maturin Series Book 20

The delay for repairs reaps a harvest of strange consequences, and then the South American expedition is a desperate affair, starting with near disaster in the ice-choked seas far south of the Horn. In the end, Jack, again the daring frigate commander of old, stakes all on a desperate solo night raid against the might of the Spanish viceroy in Peru.. Napoleon has been defeated at Waterloo, but the ensuing peace becomes ugly for Captain Jack Aubrey, with violent celebrations of the English sailors in Gibraltar and the desertion of nearly half his crew. To cap it all off, the Surprise is nearly sunk in a shattering night collision on the first leg of her journey to South America, where Jack and Stephen are to help Chile assert her independence from Spain

"The book contains the usual splendid blend of nautical detail and political intrigue, savage battles and naturalists' musing, all ratified by O'Brian's seemingly effortless ability to deploy the vocabulary and idioms of the time." --New Yorker

"Great of course." according to PapaTom. Great, of course. You will like this logical end to the series. [Think twice before you read "21" as it leaves one up in the air. As it is incomplete you my feel responsible for all the characters and relationships for a long time. "21" is for real fans.]. Fathead 1 said The Aubry/ Maturin books are perfect in every way. Patrick O'Brian is my favorite author historical Fiction at it's finest.. W J Campbell said Five Stars. Cannot recommend enough.