The Letter of Marque

By: Patrick O'Brian

captain jack aubrey, a brilliant and experienced officer, has been struck off the list of post-captains for a crime he did not commit. his old friend stephen maturin, usually cast as a ship's surgeon to mask his discreet activities on behalf of british intelligence, has bought for aubrey his former ship the surprise to command as a privateer, more politely termed a letter of marque. together they...