THE FINAL UNFINISHED VOYAGE OF JACK AUBREY. **

UK,slim Qrto HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. [Number line 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2.] NMINT/NMINT. No owner inscrptn,and no price-clip to dw/dj. Bright,crisp,clean, matt,colour pictorial artwork by Geoff Hunt,illustrated upper panel+spine/backstrip of d/dj,with blue,b/w+ gilt lettering; with negligible shelf-wear and creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Top+ fore-edges bright,crisp and clean; contents bright, tight,clean - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips - possibly unread,apart from my own collation? Publisher's bright,crisp,clean,original, sharp-cornered,blue cloth boards with bright,crisp, blocked fluorescent gilt letters to spine/backstrip,dark blue+white striped headband,and immaculate colour pictorial artwork illustration by Geoff Hunt,of ALL the 20 previous 'Jack Aubrey' novels' book/cover art, illustrated endpapers.UK, slim Qrto HB+dw/dj, illustrated,1st edn,ix-xivpp+2-136pp [paginated] includes foreword by William Waldegrave,3 chapters, an afterword by Richard Snow,and 12 single-sided pages of O'Brian's facsimile manuscript.Plus [unpaginated] half-title page,publisher advert of all author's previously published works,title page,a note and 8pp blanks at rear.
At the time of his death (Jan 2000,in Dublin.), Patrick O'Brian had begun to write a novel to follow on from 'Blue at the Mizzen',the 20th book in the famous, highly acclaimed and much-loved series of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin novels.
The chapters left on O'Brian's death are presented here both in printed version and a facsimile of his manuscript,which goes several pages beyond the end of the typescript and includes marginal notes by O'Brian.
The story picks up from the end of 'Blue at the Mizzen' when Jack Aubrey receives the news,in Chile,of his elevation to flag rank: Rear Admiral of the Blue Squadron,with orders to sail to the South African station.This new novel,unfinished and untitled at the time of O'Brian's death,would have been a chronicle of that mission,and much else besides.
As the novel opens,we are able to visit these friends we have followed so very far in a rare state of almost perfect felicity.Jack has seen his illegitimate son ably discharging important duties.
Sophie and his daughters are with him; Brigid is with her father,she's thriving, and Stephen is with a woman who is very dear to him.Jack,at last,is flying a rear-admiral's flag aboard a ship of the line.
And so this great 'roman fleuve' comes to an end with Jack sailing through fair,sweet days; Stephen with his dissections and new love; Killick muttering darkly over the toasted cheese. . . . .
Of course,we would rather have had the whole story; instead we have this proof that O'Brian's powers of observation,his humour and his understanding of his characters were undiminished to the end.
Want more Patrick O'BRIAN titles? Other titles available - please check my MODERN FIRSTS,MODERN FIRSTS2 and BIOGRAPHY catalogues,for other and similar titles, works.
See also the following book ID's for more titles by/from this author: rja65 [POST CAPTAIN], rja626 and rja893 [THE WINE DARK SEA], rja1040 [THE YELLOW ADMIRAL], rja1417 [THE HUNDRED DAYS], rja322710 [THE FORTUNE of WAR] and rja1833 [Pablo Ruiz PICASSO: A Biography].
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