The Ionian Mission
 | |
| Author | Patrick O'Brian |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Geoff Hunt |
| Language | English |
| Series | Aubrey-Maturin series |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Harper Collins (UK) |
Publication date | 1981 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book (Cassette, CD) |
| Pages | pages (first edition, hardback) & pages (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-393-03708-8, (first edition, hardback) & ISBN 0-393-30821-9 (paperback edition UK) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| Preceded by | The Surgeon's Mate |
| Followed by | Treason's Harbour |
The Ionian Mission, (1981) is a historical novel by naval author Patrick O'Brian in the continuing series about Jack Audrey and sea surgeon and friend Stephen Maturin.
Plot summary
In The Ionian Mission Jack Aubrey, his financial affairs increasingly entangled, thankfully accepts temporary command of HMS Worcester, a 74-gun ship of the line, bound for blockade-duty off Toulon under the command of Admiral Thornton. Maturin accompanies him, but then departs for Spain on intelligence business. Blockade duty becomes tedious for captain and crew, but a trip to Medina supervenes, where Aubrey, poorly briefed by the hostile Admiral Harte, fails to provoke the French to a breach of local neutrality and thus to provide an excuse for action. His actions prevent the sacrifice of HMS Dryad, commanded by his friend Babbington, but cause Aubrey considerable soul-searching about his personal courage and appetite for battle, and damage his men's confidence in him as a commander.
The ship picks up Maturin again at Mahon and immediately conveys him to the Languedoc coast for a potentially crucial meeting, which proves unsuccessful. Returning to the squadron, Worcester joins in the pursuit of French ships, but suffers damage. The Navy reassigns Aubrey to detached duty aboard his beloved Surprise and he sails to the Adriatic to deal with attempts to increase French influence over parts of the Ottoman Empire. The crew become caught up in complex local politics, and eventually engage in battle with a rebellious bey who has captured two British transport-vessels. In the course of these dealings Aubrey regains his confidence and restores his reputation with his men. This book demonstrates that Aubrey's keen desire for success and robust attitude to war do not exclude him from making important decisions on the basis of morality.
Characters in "The Ionian Mission"
- Jack Aubrey - appointed Captain of HMS Worcester.
- Stephen Maturin - ship's surgeon, friend to Jack and intelligence officer.
- Sophie Aubrey - Jack's wife
- Mrs. Williams - Sophie's mother
- Diana Villiers - Stephen's wife.
Ships in "The Ionian Mission"
The British
The French
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
Literary significance & criticism
Reviews
"O'Brian's books are as atypical of conventional sea stories as Conrad's. Like John LeCarré, he has erased the boundary separating a debased genre from 'serious' fiction. O'Brian is a novelist, pure and simple, one of the best we have."—Mark Horowitz, Los Angles Times Book Review
"They're funny, they're exciting, they're informative...There are legions of us who gladly ship out time and time again under Captain Aubrey."—The New Yorker
Editions
- William Collins; 1981
- Fontana; paperback edition 1982
- HarperCollins; paperback edition 1993
- HarperCollins; B-format paperback edition 1996
- HarperCollins; paperback edition 2003. (ISBN 0 00 649922 8)
- Recorded Books, LLC; Unabridged Audio edition narrated by Patrick Tull (ISBN 1402591810)