The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey

Infobox Book |
name = The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Patrick O'Brian
country = United Kingdom
language = English
cover_artist = Geoff Hunt
series = Aubrey-Maturin series
genre = Historical novel
publisher = Harper Collins (UK)
pub_date = 2004
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book (Cassette, CD)
pages = 144 pp (first edition, hardback)
isbn = ISBN 0-393-06025-X, (first edition, hardback)
preceded_by = Blue at the Mizzen
followed_by =

"The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey" (published in the northern-hemisphere autumn of 2004), the unfinished twenty-first novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series, appeared in the United States of America under the simpler title of "21". It comprises the partially corrected typescript of the approximately three chapters completed by O'Brian before his death in January, 2000, as well as a facsimile of the handwritten manuscript which continues beyond the end of the typescript.

Editor's Note and Afterword

The published work appears with a "Editor's Note" by Starling Lawrence and an afterword by Richard Snow, who had written an influential review of the series in the "New York Times Book Review" many years before. [cite news | last=Snow | first=Richard | title=An Author I'd Walk the Plank For | publisher=New York Times | date=1991-01-06 | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE5D9113CF935A35752C0A967958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
accessdate=2008-07-27 ] CommentatorsWho|date=September 2008 have credited Snow's review with helping to popularize the series in the United States.

Plot summary

The story begins with the "Surprise" in the Strait of Magellan, caught up in foul weather. Hanson first spots Cape Pilar at the very opening of the Strait, and soon the "Surprise" moors and conducts some trade with the inhospitable locals for meat and vegetables. Having re-provisioned, she and "Ringle" sail northwards in fine weather until they enter the River Plate and moor close to the island functioning as the main administrative centre. A quarantine officer comes aboard, a Dr Quental, and gives the frigate a clean bill of health.

Wantage informs Maturin of a rumpus in the town: a fight between Protestant mariners from a Boston barque clash with the Catholic locals over the right of polygamy. Further signs of local resentment emerge when a large scow dumps the town's filth next to the frigate and the Portuguese sailors shout abuse at the Surprises. Aubrey spots a black Legate and recognises him as his own bastard son, Sam. The Most Reverend Doctor Samuel Mputa, the Papal Nuncio to the Republic of Argentina, has recently saved the government from an open rebellion.

The South African squadron, under its Commander-in-Chief Admiral Lord Leyton, finally makes its appearance and the crew of the "Surprise" bring their ship up to a high state of perfection. Jack makes his appearance on board HMS "Suffolk" and sees his rear-admiral's blue flag hoisted on the flag ship. He then has an interview with the somewhat cantankerous Admiral, who instructs him to ask Stephen if two of his officers can sail on the "Surprise" (now a private vessel once more) back to England. While the fleet re-provisions, the "Ringle" sails off under the steady and capable Lieutenant Harding, and later returns with Sophie Aubrey, Christine Wood, her brother Edward and the three children (Brigid Maturin, Fanny Aubrey and Charlotte Aubrey) who will sail on with Jack and Stephen to South Africa. The final chapters end with an Admiral's dinner before which Stephen and Jack meet Captain Miller, Leyton's nephew and Jack's neighbour at Caxley. Miller, who has a reputation as a lady's man and as an excellent shot — nicknamed Hair-Trigger Miller — has being paying court to Christine Wood. The Admiral asks Aubrey if he can take Miller on board with him to take up a new position in Cape Town.

[In the last few handwritten pages that follow the end of the typscript, as the South Africa squadron makes its way to St Helena, Mrs Wood asks Stephen to prevent Randolph Miller's unwanted attentions. In doing so, Stephen also calls Miller out for naming him a liar. Miller insists on pistols but Maturin insists on his right, as the aggrieved party, to name the weapons; thus they fight with swords, which puts Miller at a disadvantage. The duel takes place: after three or four thrusts Stephen disarms Miller and demands an apology, which Miller gives him.]

Characters in "The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey"

* Jack Aubrey - Rear-Admiral of the Blue, aboard HMS "Suffolk".
* Stephen Maturin - ship's surgeon, friend to Jack and an intelligence officer.
* The Most Reverend Doctor Samuel Mputa - Papal Nuncio to the Republic of Argentina
* Sophie Aubrey - Jack's wife.
* Brigid Maturin - Stephen's daughter.
* Christine Wood - Stephen's love-interest.
* Captain Randoph Miller - an Army officer who courts Christine Wood.
* Admiral Lord Leyton - Commander-in-Chief South African squadron; Captain Miller's uncle.
* Lieutenant Harding - First Lieutenant on the "Surprise".
* Horatio Hanson - acting master on the "Surprise".
* Dr Amos Jacob - assistant-surgeon and intelligence agent
* Dr Quental - quarantine doctor
* Awkward Davies
* Preserved Killick
* Padeen Colman
* Mr Wells - midshipman on the "Surprise".
* Captain Simmons - Captain of HMS "Suffolk"
* Edward Heatherleigh - Christine Wood's brother and a renowned naturalist

hips in "The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey"

The British:

* HMS "Suffolk" - seventy-four gun man-of-war
* HMS "Surprise" - twenty-eight gun privately-owned frigate
* HMS "Ringle" - a schooner

Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

Reviews

Editions

* HarperCollins; Hardback (2004) (ISBN 0007194692)
* Norton; Hardback (2004) as "21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey" (ISBN 0-393-06025-X)
* Recorded Books, LLC; Unabridged Audio edition narrated by Patrick Tull (ISBN 1419308939)

ources, references, external links, quotations

Footnotes