THE FORTUNE OF WAR

Patrick O'Brian's British characters, Captain Jack Aubrey and his shipmate, Dr. Stephen Maturin, suffer a shipwreck, weeks in a lifeboat, and capture by an American vessel. Taken to Boston, they become involved in the intricacies of politics that lead to the War of 1812. Narrator John Lee produces spirited conversations for O'Brian's characters, thereby resuscitating a tranquil novel shy on the scheming and naval action readers have come to expect from this series. Lee discovers ample opportunity to exercise his laudable skill at accents; he employs various levels of British English, a credible Boston inflection, and a corny "Peter Sellers" French worthy of a smile. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]