Criticism > Contemporary Literary Criticism > O'Brian, Patrick - Frederick Pratter (review date 2 May 1995)

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Frederick Pratter (review date 2 May 1995)

SOURCE: “Battling Slavers Off the West Coast of Africa,” in Christian Science Monitor, Vol. 87, May 2, 1995, p. 14.

[In the following review, Pratter offers a positive assessment of The Commodore, calling it a welcome addition to the Aubrey/Maturin series.]

One of the best storytellers afloat sets sail again in the pages of The Commodore. This 17th novel in Patrick O'Brian's series about adventure in the British Royal Navy is as finely trimmed as the ships he writes about.

The legion of fans who have savored the unfolding story of Captain “Lucky Jack” Aubrey and the saturnine Dr. Steven Maturin can be of good cheer. The old master hasn't lost his touch.

Last year's Wine-Dark Sea was a grand melodrama, filled with storms, sea chases, and climactic battles. A first-time reader might do well to start with that volume, then return to the beginning of the...

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1. Introduction
2. Principal Works
3. Criticism
   1. John Bayley (essay date 7 November 1991)
   2. Frank Stewart (review date 4 April 1993)
   3. Byron Rogers (review date 10 July 1993)
   4. Michael Dirda (review date August 1993)
   5. Patrick T. Reardon (review date 19 December 1993)
   6. Frederick Pratter (review date 31 December 1993)
   7. John Balzar (review date 2 January 1994)
   8. Thomas McGonigle (review date 2 January 1994)
   9. Elliott Abrams (review date 24 January 1994)
   10. James Hamilton-Paterson (review date 26 December 1994)
   11. Frederick Pratter (review date 2 May 1995)
   12. Katherine A. Powers (review date July 1995)
   13. Sam Pickering (review date Spring 1996)
   14. Thomas R. Edwards (essay date Summer 1996)
   15. John Balzar (review date 20 October 1996)
   16. Edward T. Wheeler (review date 8 November 1996)
   17. Christopher Clausen (review date 16 December 1996)
   18. James Teacher (review date 4 January 1997)
   19. John Mullan (review date 10 January 1997)
   20. Books Magazine (review date October 1997)
   21. Molly Finn (essay date 19 June 1998)
   22. Alan Judd (review date 22 August 1998)
   23. Barbara Everett (review date 4 September 1998)
   24. Martin Jacques (review date 6 September 1998)
   25. Christopher Hitchens (essay date 9 March 2000)
4. Further Reading
5. Copyright