Patrick O'Brian discussion

When I first started to read this series many years ago I found it a bit hard going so I never re-read them or purchased the later ones in the series. Can't even find them in the loft now. The film renewed my interest so I purchased and read 'The Far Side of the World'. Now I've put the others on my wish list.

Has anyone put together a list of which novels in the series were raided for plot elements in the movie? I think it was three or four at least. If there's ever a sequel - and they seem to have left lots of room for this - that mining "of the good stuff" may prove awkward. Also, is it just me, or does it seem that Master Henry Southwick is visiting from the Ramage series? Sort of the cinematic equivalent of a Ffordean pagerunner, maybe? Or maybe he enrolled in the Character Exchange Program?

johnk wrote: If there's ever a sequel ............

Have a look at this thread http://www.historicnavalfiction.net/the-master-s-log-f30/master-commander-sequel-t443.htm

I believe these novels were mined for its plot:
Master And Commander
Far Side of the World
HMS Surprise (Maturin's self-operation)
Desolation Island (the stern chase around the Horn)

Wikipedia has a good article on the movie, and the changes and additions from the novels. I watched the movie after reading just the first book and was worried that I'd be spoiled for the books. I wasn't, and it's a relief to know that some of the things that happened in the movie don't happen at all in the books (the sacrifice of Warley, for example).

I'm kicking myself for not buying the special edition of the DVD. The one I have doesn't include the extra features, darn it!

I just discovered the books a few months ago. I've read the first 11 and look forward to reading the rest of them. I'm really glad I didn't find them until they'd all been written, because it seems that each one ends with something of a cliffhanger.

It seems O Brian used Lord Cochrane career as the basis of his novels.

ronbo477 wrote: It seems O Brian used Lord Cochrane career as the basis of his novels.

I would agree he used Cochrane as a starting point. There are clear similarities [his cruises in book 1 and the later trial episode etc], but IMO Aubrey quickly becomes his own man.