Aubrey-Maturin Books in Order

Patrick O'Brian's sweeping series of naval historical novels follows Royal Navy officer Jack Aubrey and his friend Stephen Maturin, a physician, naturalist, and secret intelligence agent, through their adventures during the Napoleonic Wars. It comprises twenty completed novels and one unfinished final volume published after the author's death.

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of Master and Commander

    Master and Commander

    1969 · Patrick O'Brian

    Set during the Napoleonic Wars, this opening novel introduces ambitious Royal Navy lieutenant Jack Aubrey, newly handed command of the small…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  2. Cover of Post Captain

    Post Captain

    1972 · Patrick O'Brian

    With a fragile peace declared, Jack Aubrey finds himself ashore, hounded by creditors and entangled in romantic rivalry with Stephen Maturin over two…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  3. Cover of H.M.S. Surprise

    H.M.S. Surprise

    1973 · Patrick O'Brian

    Aubrey is given the frigate Surprise and ordered to carry a diplomatic envoy to the East Indies, while Maturin pursues both his intelligence duties…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  4. Cover of The Mauritius Command

    The Mauritius Command

    1977 · Patrick O'Brian

    Promoted to commodore, Jack Aubrey is sent to orchestrate a campaign to wrest the islands of Mauritius and Reunion from French control in the Indian…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  5. Cover of Desolation Island Audio

    Desolation Island Audio

    1978 · Patrick O'Brian

    Aubrey is ordered to sail the aging Leopard to the penal colony of New South Wales, carrying convicts and an alluring, dangerous prisoner of interest…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  6. Cover of The Fortune of War

    The Fortune of War

    1979 · Patrick O'Brian

    Shipwrecked survivors Aubrey and Maturin take passage homeward, only to be caught up in the War of 1812 after the outbreak of hostilities with…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  7. Cover of The Surgeon's Mate

    The Surgeon's Mate

    1980 · Patrick O'Brian

    Escaping America, Aubrey and Maturin reach Halifax, where Stephen is reunited with Diana Villiers, and then face a perilous crossing of the Atlantic…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  8. Cover of The Ionian Mission

    The Ionian Mission

    1981 · Patrick O'Brian

    Returned to the Mediterranean aboard a worn-out ship of the line, Aubrey endures the tedium of blockade duty off Toulon before being sent on a…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  9. Cover of Treason's Harbour

    Treason's Harbour

    1983 · Patrick O'Brian

    Operating out of Malta, Aubrey and Maturin undertake a series of Mediterranean missions while Stephen grows aware that French agents have penetrated…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  10. Cover of The Far Side of the World

    The Far Side of the World

    1984 · Patrick O'Brian

    Aubrey is ordered to take the Surprise around Cape Horn into the Pacific to intercept an American frigate preying on British whalers. The arduous…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  11. Cover of The Reverse of the Medal

    The Reverse of the Medal

    1986 · Patrick O'Brian

    Returning to England after a long Pacific voyage, Aubrey is caught up in a fraudulent stock-exchange scheme and finds his naval career and reputation…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  12. Cover of The Letter of Marque

    The Letter of Marque

    1988 · Patrick O'Brian

    Stripped of his naval rank, Aubrey buys the Surprise and sails her as a privateer, hoping that a brilliant feat of arms might restore his name and…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  13. Cover of The thirteen-gun salute

    The thirteen-gun salute

    1989 · Patrick O'Brian

    Aubrey and Maturin are dispatched on a diplomatic voyage to the South China Sea to secure a treaty with a Malay sultanate, countering French efforts…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  14. Cover of La Goleta Nutmeg

    La Goleta Nutmeg

    1991 · Patrick O'Brian

    Marooned with their company after losing their ship, Aubrey and Maturin must improvise an escape, building and arming a small vessel to carry on…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  15. Cover of The Wine - Dark Sea

    The Wine - Dark Sea

    1993 · Patrick O'Brian

    Continuing across the Pacific, Aubrey hunts a privateer while Maturin undertakes a hazardous intelligence mission ashore in South America, aiming to…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  16. Cover of The Commodore

    The Commodore

    1995 · Patrick O'Brian

    Restored to the Navy and made a commodore, Aubrey leads a squadron on a mission against the West African slave trade and a planned French descent on…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  17. Cover of The Yellow Admiral

    The Yellow Admiral

    1996 · Patrick O'Brian

    Threatened with the loss of his beloved estate and frustrated in his hopes of promotion to flag rank, Aubrey endures the politics of the peacetime…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  18. Cover of The Hundred Days (Aubrey-Maturin (Audio))

    The Hundred Days (Aubrey-Maturin (Audio))

    1998 · Patrick O'Brian

    With Napoleon escaped from Elba and the Hundred Days underway, Aubrey and Maturin are sent to the Mediterranean to thwart a plot to ferry mercenary…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  19. Cover of Blue at the Mizzen (Aubrey-Maturin)

    Blue at the Mizzen (Aubrey-Maturin)

    1999 · Patrick O'Brian

    After Napoleon's fall, Aubrey sails south to chart waters and then to aid the cause of Chilean independence, while still hoping at last to hoist his…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon
  20. Cover of FINAL UNFINISHED VOYAGE OF JACK AUBREY

    FINAL UNFINISHED VOYAGE OF JACK AUBREY

    2004 · Patrick O'Brian

    Left incomplete at the author's death, this fragment opens what would have been the next chapter of Aubrey and Maturin's adventures, published as the…

    Read more →
    Buy on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the Aubrey-Maturin books in?

Publication order — Widely recommended by readers and the official patrickobrian.com chronology; the novels form one continuous narrative Start with “Master and Commander.”

How many books are in the Aubrey-Maturin series?

We list 20 books by Patrick O'Brian , published between 1969–2004.

Where can I buy the Aubrey-Maturin books?

Each title above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.