Customer Reviews
good book but doesn't feel like it was written for the purpose - By: Donal Quinn, 20 May 2008 
This book is good & the illustrations & photos are great but it really seems as if the book was written as a generic guide to the Royal navy & then they added on the Jack Aubrey stuff later on. There is no real understanding of Aubrey & Maturin & the booksin the series - it's a bit generic. Pity
Hazard warning! - By: a reader from London, 06 Dec 2006 
This is a very useful book to read as background for the Aubrey series, BUT it should come with a warning - if you read it before you finish the series (as indeed you would want to) it will spill the beans on some of the story lines...
Marvelous! Even better than I'd hoped! - By: drjekyl, 16 Jan 2004 
I really must say I loved this book. It's quite beautiful, with many stunning paintings & illustrations. Plus, it is full of helpful & interesting information the time period of the M & C books. I had primarily been looking for some maps, more detail about the ships & perhaps a more detailed explanation of naval ranks & uniforms, & I found all of this & so very much more. Books like this one add so very much to one's enjoyment of the novels. I heartily recommend it.
The Real Life of Jack Aubrey - By: SM OWEN, 21 Nov 2003 Fans of Patrick O'Brian will love it & so should anyone who loves the sea, sailing ships & our fascinating maritime history.
At first glance this seems like a 'coffee table' book - to be admired, but not necessarily read. Closer examination reveals an impressively well-researched book, packed full of excellent illustrations. There is a wide range of well-reproduced paintings of famous ships & battles. There are maps, sketches, cartoons, engravings, diagrams, portraits & water-colours. Every aspect of a 19th century sailor's life is described clearly, accurately &in an interesting manner.
Links to Jack Aubrey are scattered through the book, with a welcome 'Cast of Characters' on 4 pages, as well as a glossary of nautical terms foundin the Patrick O'Brian books. You might want to buy two of these books - one for your coffee table & one to read & re-read.
