This was Patrick O'Brian's 10th book in the Aubrey/Maturin series and if you're going to read it because its title is the subtitle of the movie, then don't. The two storylines have little in common. If you're going to read it because you want great sea-going, Napoleonic war fiction, well, that's a much better reason. The movie replaces an American warship with a French one, the subplot about Hollum being a Jonah is toned down considerably and the movie's final twist bears no resemblance to any of the books I have read yet. (The book's final twist is quite something else completely and far superior.)
Still, it is a good read and an important one of the series. We grow to love the HMS Surprise even more than in other books. We get a startling view of Jack's devotion to Stephen when he saves Stephen's life (again). And this time Stephen's second career doesn't dominate every scene with improbables.
Oh, and why (you may ask), does the review of the 10th book get done after the 11th? Something to do with only being 24 hours in a day.
