Clarissa Oakes (Paperback, Reissue)

Captain Jack Aubrey sails away from the hated Australian prison colonies in his favourite vessel, the 'Surprise', pondering on middle age and sexual frustration. He soon becomes aware that he is out of touch with the mood of his ship: to his astonishment he finds that in spite of a lifetime's experience, he does not know what the foremost hands, or even his own officers are thinking. They know, as he does not, that the 'Surprise' has a stranger on board: and what they, for their part, do not know is that the stranger is potentially as dangerous as a light in the powder magazine itself.

'Few books so entertaining and readable are based on such strong research and grasp of human nature. One moment you laugh out aloud at comedy rooted in character, and the next, storming adventure or danger grips you by the throat…good writing allied to must-read-on storytelling.'
Shaun Usher, 'Daily Mail'

'Thank god for Patrick O'Brian. His genius illuminates the literature of the English language and lightens the lives of those who read him.'
Kevin Myers, 'Irish Times'