Episode 231 - The Mauritius Command (Part 9)

After flexing his brain surgery skills, Stephen is off to subvert the catholics of Mauritius, but gets a nasty dunking. Jack Aubrey has a chance to take on Commodore Hamelin on equal terms.

They're all at it: Jack Aubrey summons his resilience, Tom Pullings summons himself, and fate summons a familiar captain back to the waters off Mauritius.  We’re going to have cat-and-mouse pursuits, false dawns, anti-climaxes and yet another blood-soaked action at sea, with a hidden clue as to the fate awaiting one of our main characters.

We step into O'Brian's re-telling of the Battle of Grand Port, the only major French naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars, and one of the most devastating, catastrophic reversals in the entire Aubrey-Maturin canon. For one of our characters in particular, it’s going to be a life-changing event.

We're taking a break from The Mauritius Command to bring you a guest interview with Antonia Senior. Antonia is a book critic at The Times, as well as a writer, podcaster and journalist. But before she was any of those things, she was a Patrick O’Brian fan, and we had a great time talking to her about historical fiction, what makes O'Brian such a standout, and which other authors come close. With a little chat about espionage on the side! 

After the hurricane, we meet human frailty, dockyard corruption, rain-soaked letters from home, and an unborn porcupine. Our heroes debate the value of a human life, with a Tory and a Radical managing not to fall out. Finally, as the invasion of La Réunion begins, lives are saved by the Voltairean Stephen Maturin.

Stephen and Jack are ashore again at the cape, ready to spend the British king’s gold on mercenaries and propaganda; Killick is anxious about meeting the ghost in the bread-room; Clonfert's fakery continues to be an issue; and all creatures, great and small, are at risk from some stormy weather.

Stephen prepares to play his part in Jack’s Mauritius mission.  We have reflections on natural philosophy, a covert mission ashore, and co-operation with the Army in the first action of the campaign - but will it be a success for all concerned? Plus - more parrot revelations.

We arrive at the Cape of Good Hope, receive Jack's true orders, and witness the immediate elevation—and corresponding pressure—that comes with the new post of Commodore Aubrey.  Meanwhile there's a surprise reunion with a couple of old Jack Aubrey followers, and a protestant parrot.

Jack Aubrey is back where he belongs: in command at sea. He’s dealing with complexities of the quarterdeck, though he hasn't escaped his troubles entirely! We have a new ship, a new crew and an early prize. Not to mention a tone-deaf guest to be tolerated in the captain’s cabin.

In Chapter 1 of The Mauritius Command, Jack Aubrey comes to terms with domesticated life ashore on half-pay. He’s beset by caterpillars, wax-moths, a barren cow, daughters and a shrewish mother-in-law - not quite the life he imagined. An old friend visits with surprising news, and a lady begging a lift gets the Sophie treatment. Plus two old landlubber friends dust off their former identities and set sail again.