As we’ve now reached the eighth book in this superlative
series, it should come as no surprise that I enjoyed it immensely, as it seems
that Patrick O’Brian is incapable of writing anything I don’t enjoy. Even when
not much is happening.
The Ionian Mission is nowhere near as action-packed as its
predecessors, as instead of dashing up and down the Med taking prizes, Jack and
his crew are now just one small part of a blockade. Without much fighting or
sailing to do, Jack can’t bank on his strong skills (and luck) in those regards
and is instead having to push his little grey cells into playing politics.
It’s a testament to O’Brian’s writing and fantastic
characters that the daily life of an all but stationary ship and a bored crew
can still make such great reading. And while I might have missed my beloved Stephen
a little at times (he’s still here, but off-ship or in the background for a
good part of it) the sarcastic and nagging Killick made sure that I still got
more than my fair share of smirks and sniggers. Add in a quick stopover in my
hometown where a purchase of cheap gunpowder results in Jack’s ship sending
cannons across the water powered by shrieking flashes of fireworks, and the
result is me being tickled pink.
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