B.A., M.Phil., D.Phil.

(McFarland & Co., Jefferson, NC

Available as of June 19^th 2006)

For 2006 there’s a new – somewhat re-named – edition of Gary Brown’s biographical companion to the world of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, the invaluable Patrick O’Brian Muster Book:

~ All the characters (and ships, and animals, and ships and cannon….) for all 20 books of the series - which of course ended with O’Brian’s death in 2001 – plus the recently published 21^st fragment

~ Extensive revision of all existing entries to take account of new research, and to correct past errors and omissions

~ A new Introductory Chapter giving the historical background and inspiration for the plot of each of the 21 books

~ An extensive Biography of Patrick and Mary O’Brian

~ A new expanded Bibliography and Research Resources section, full annotated; both Web and Library resources for Patrick O’Brian’s Wooden World and general Naval History are included

~ In all, approximately 500 pages (150 pages more than the 1999 First Edition), with many hundreds of new entries; hardback, library-binding, exquisite cover

~ There’s also a regularly updated Revisions, Additions and Errata Page on the Web.

Here’s what the experts said about the First Edition:

Brown “… brings to the task an erudition that is a worthy match for O'Brian's and, as a result, his book is one of those works of reference that it is genuinely difficult to put down, with one entry cross-referencing to another in an enthralling intellectual trail'”

Colin White
Deputy Director of The Royal Naval Museum, Director for the National Maritime Museum of ‘Trafalgar 200’, and author of
’The Nelson Encyclopedia: People, Places, Battles, Ships, Myths, Mistresses, Memorials, and Memorabilia’ (Stackpole Books, 2003)

“An astonishing piece of work … and a valuable one too. A substantial tribute to O’Brian”

Richard Snow

Editor of American Heritage Magazine

“As indispensable as a mainmast or a compass for any reader who would put to sea in [Jack and Stephen’s] company”

Lewis Lapham

Editor of Harper’s Magazine