Patrick O’Brian (1914 – 2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of sea novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and centred on the friendship of the English naval captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen Maturin. The 20-novel series, the first of which is Master and Commander, is known for its well-researched and highly detailed portrayal of early 19th-century life, as well as its authentic and evocative language. A partially finished 21st novel in the series was published posthumously containing facing pages of handwriting and typescript.
O’Brian wrote a number of other novels and short stories, most of which were published before he achieved success with the Aubrey–Maturin series. He also translated works from French to English, and wrote two biographies.
His major success as a writer came late in life, when the Aubrey-Maturin series caught the eye of an American publisher. The series drew more readers and favourable reviews when the author was in his seventies. Near the end of his life, and in the same year that he lost his wife, British media revealed details of O’Brian’s early life, first marriage, and post-war change of name, causing distress to the very private author and to many of his readers at that time.
As well as his historical novels, Patrick O’Brian wrote three adult mainstream novels, six short-story collections, and a history of the Royal Navy aimed at young readers. He was also a respected translator, responsible for more than 30 translations from the French into English, including Henri Charrière’s Papillon (UK) and Banco: The further adventures of Papillon, Jean Lacouture’s biography of Charles de Gaulle, as well as many of Simone de Beauvoir’s later works.
Patrick O’Brian – First Editions Identification Guide
| Year | Title | Publisher | First edition/printing identification points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | The Last Pool and Other Stories | London: Seeker & Warburg, 1950 | Dust jacket's front flap code ''W.381". "First published 1950" stated on © page. |
| 1953 | The Catalans | New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, [1953] | Dust jacket ($2.50)."First Edition" stated on © page. ALSO: London: Hart-Davis, 1953. First UK edition. Dust jacket (10/6). |
| 1955 | The Walker and Other Stories | New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, [1955] | Dust jacket ($3.50)."First Edition" stated on © page. ALSO: London: Hart-Davis, 1956. Published as "Lying in the sun and other stories." First UK edition. Dust jacket (12/6). |
| 1969 | Master and Commander | New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, [1969] | Dust jacket ($6.95). "First Edition" stated on © page. ALSO: London: Collins, 1970. Dust jacket (30/-). |
| 1972 | Post Captain | London: Collins, 1972 | Dust jacket (£1.80). "First published 1972" stated on © page. ALSO: Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1972. First American edition. Dust jacket ($7.95) |
| 1973 | HMS Surprise | London: Collins, 1973 | Dust jacket (£2.50). "First published 1973" stated on © page. ALSO: Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1973. Dust jacket ($7.95). |
| 1974 | The Chian Wine and Other Stories | London: Collins, 1974 | Dust jacket (£2.50). "First published 1974" stated on © page. |
| 1977 | The Mauritius Command | London: Collins, 1977 | Dust jacket (£3.95). "First published 1977" stated on © page. ALSO New York: Stein and Day, 1978. First American edition. Dust jacket ($8.95). |
| 1978 | Desolation Island | London: Collins, 1978 | Dust jacket (£4.95). "First published 1978" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Stein and Day, 1979. First American edition. Dust jacket ($9.95). |
| 1979 | The Fortune of War | London: Collins, 1979 | Dust jacket (£5.50)."First published 1979" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1991. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($9.95). |
| 1980 | The Surgeon's Mate | London: Collins, 1980 | Dust jacket (£5.95). "First published 1980" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1992. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($9.95). |
| 1981 | The Ionian Mission | London: Collins, 1981 | Dust jacket (£6.95). "First published 1981" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1992. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($9.95). |
| 1983 | Treason's Harbour | London: Collins, 1983 | Dust jacket (£6.95). "First published 1983" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1992. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($9.95). |
| 1984 | The Far Side of the World | London: Collins, 1984 | Dust jacket (£9.95). "First published 1984" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1992. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($9.95). |
| 1986 | The Reverse of the Medal | London: Collins, 1986 | Dust jacket (£10.95). "First published 1986" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1992. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($9.95). |
| 1988 | The Letter of Marque | London: Collins, 1988 | Dust jacket (£10.95). "First published 1988" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1991. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($18.95). |
| 1989 | The Thirteen-Gun Salute | London: Collins, 1989 | Dust jacket (£11.95). "First published 1989" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1991. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($18.95). |
| 1991 | The Nutmeg of Consolation | London: Collins, 1991 | Dust jacket (£13.99). "First published 1991" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1991. First American edition. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($18.95). |
| 1992 | Clarissa Oakes | London: HarperCollins, [1992] | Dust jacket (£14.99). "1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1992. Published as "True Love". First American edition. "First American edition 1992" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($19.95). |
| 1993 | The Wine-Dark Sea | London: HarperCollins, [1993] | Dust jacket (£14.99). "1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1993. First American edition. "First American edition 1993" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($19.95). |
| 1994 | The Commodore | London: HarperCollins, [1994] | Dust jacket (£14.99). "1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1994. First American edition. "First American edition 1994" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($19.95). |
| 1996 | The Yellow Admiral | London: HarperCollins, [1996] | Dust jacket (£15.99). "1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1996. fbc stated on © page. Dust jacket ($24.00). |
| 1998 | The Hundred Days | London: HarperCollins, [1998] | Dust jacket (£15.99). "1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1998. "1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($24.00). |
| 1999 | Blue at the Mizzen | London: HarperCollins, [1999] | Dust jacket (£15.99). "1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2" stated on © page. ALSO: New York: Norton, 1999. "1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2" stated on © page. Dust jacket ($24.00). |
Patrick O’Brian – First Printing Dust Jackets Identification Guide
Gallery of First state Dust Jackets of Patrick O’Brian’s works. Only includes the first appearance in book form. Either the UK or US edition and does not include later printings.
Reference:
- Wikipedia
- A. E. Cunnningham: Patrick O’Brian, Critical Essays and Bibliography.
