The Ionian Mission

January 20, 1992
This entry in the Aubrey/Maturin series (see above review of The Surgeon's Mate ) finds Captain Jack Aubrey ``shoved into a temporary command in that rotten old Worcester ,'' a poorly built ship. Worse, he's off to the Mediterranean to join the Royal Navy's endless blockade of the French port of Toulon. Aside from a chance encounter with a French man-of-war that triggers a brief but extremely colorful battle, there is little excitement as HMS Worcester settles in with the other blockading ships, some with crews showing signs of strain from remaining constantly alert but inactive. Second in command at Toulon is Admiral Harte, no friend of Aubrey's (who cuckolded the admiral years ago). Harte dispatches Aubrey on a delicate mission to the politically volatile Ionian coast. Although he has the succor of Stephen Maturin, a seasoned intelligence agent, and Professor Graham, an expert on the region's customs, Aubrey is caught in a complex net of Turkish politics and rivalries. And while Harte seems to offer all reasonable backing for the mission, Aubrey knows that should he fail, the admiral would like nothing better than to throw him to the dogs.

In one of the best in the Aubrey/Maturin Napoleonic-era sea story series, the tone of the late O'Brian's work and the inflections of the characters are nicely enunciated by Tim Pigott-Smith. He reads with consummate ease, moving from one character to another effortlessly, revealing their characters as well as their words. When an accent is needed, he provides it--Maturin has a gentle Irish brogue, for example. When age and feebleness need to be presented, Pigott-Smith skillfully presents them. The story has to do with Captain Aubrey breaking blockade and, under orders, sailing into the Greek isles for intrigue and action against the French. D.W. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine