The Mauritius Command (2009 Folio Society edition) by Patrick O’Brian is the fourth installment in the beloved Aubrey-Maturin series, a masterful blend of Napoleonic-era naval adventure and rich character drama. This volume sees Captain Jack Aubrey, freshly promoted to commodore, tasked with leading a squadron to capture the French-held islands of Mauritius and La Réunion in the Indian Ocean—a strategic gambit fraught with rivalries among his captains and the cunning of his adversaries.
O’Brian’s meticulous historical detail (ship maneuvers, period politics) and dry wit shine, while Stephen Maturin’s espionage subplots add intrigue. The Folio Society edition enhances the novel with nautical maps, sturdy cloth binding, making it a worthy tribute to O’Brian’s immersive prose.
A high-stakes, high-seas chess game, perfect for collectors and fans of Hornblower-esque sagas.
