The Unknown Shore

by Patrick O'Brian

Paperback, 1959

Status

Available

Call number

Fic Adventure O'Brian

Publication

New York : Norton, 1996, c1959.

Description

As in The Golden Ocean, The Unknown Shore tells the tale of another ill-fated ship on Anson�s expedition round the world � the Wager. Parted from her squadron in the fearful storms off Cape Horn, the Wager struggles on alone up the ironbound coast of Chile, before she is driven onto rocks and sinks. The survivors include Jack Byron, a midshipman, and his eccentric prot�g�? Toby, an alarmingly naive surgeon's mate with a single-minded devotion to zoology. Faced with a surplus of rum, a disappearing stock of food and a hard, detested captain, the survivors soon descend into trouble of every kind, including drunkenness, mutiny and bloodshed. As they make their way northwards under the guidance of a band of stony and depraved Indians, they at last find safety and good treatment in Valparaiso. Admirers of O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novels will see Jack Byron a matter-of-fact, bluff precursor to the great Jack Aubrey. Whilst Toby, raging in Greek against a corrupt Member of Parliament, stripped by thieves in the Farthing Pie House, asking the Commodore to carry his snake, arousing the darkest suspicions in the Chilean Inquisition, is an amiable companion whose vagaries afford endless diversion on a hard and dramatic journey.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member lmichet

I've heard people describe The Unknown Shore as a kind of 'practice run' of the whole Aubrey/Maturin relationship from Patrick O'Brian's monster series of Napoleanic War books. This is, indeed, accurate: the Jack and Toby of The Unknown Shore are practically identical to the Jack and Stephen of

Master and Commander, except about ten years younger and, of course, swallowed up in an entirely different adventure.

A classic shipwreck adventure, anyway. I have read all the Aubrey/Maturin books, yes, so I am calculated to like this thing, but I have to admit that it's the kind of story that would appeal to a large number of people. More accessible than any Aubrey/Maturin book, because it requires no prior knowledge; packed with various exciting adventures; set in a totally strange location; Mutiny-On-the-Bounty-style capers among the crew (though not nearly as well-developed as in Bounty or in Pitcairn's Island) (and don't worry, I'm not ruining anything for you-- this information is on the back cover). Anyway, can easily be described as 'rollicking'.

As for negatives, I have none. Not as gripping as any Aubrey/Maturin book, but that's because we haven't had time to get to know these characters yet. The reason his other books are so absorbing is that by the time he'd gotten into the Aubrey/Maturin cycle, he'd convinced us to care quite deeply about his two heroes. Here the heroes are a bit sketchier, probably because they're about seventeen. However, still quite good. Would recommend it to kids, too: none of the sex and scandal from the Aubrey/Maturin books shows up here, for some reason.

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LibraryThing member iayork

Not My Favorite: The Unknown Shore is the story of Tobias and Jack, two unlikely companions who, after enlisting in the royal navy are subject to so many trials and tribulations at the end of the novel I was surprised that they survived with their sanity intact. The novel starts off mildly enough,

but after they are castaway, things begin to go rapidly downhill. As if the gruesome descriptions of scurvy were not enough, the reader is treated to watching characters starve to death slowly, under the iron fist of a stupid, and selfish captain.

Frankly, my greatest disappointment was that O'Brian did not show us what happened to the cruel and heavy-handed captain Cheap, who deserved to be eaten by cannibals at the very least.

Good, but not great, and not something I would want to read again.

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LibraryThing member almigwin

Absolutely delightful precursor to the Aubrey/Maturin novels where the heroes are a junior version of the sailor and the scientist.. Each sentence is a joy. Funny, charming and if you like Marryat, and Austen, and Fielding, you will love this.

LibraryThing member sonofcarc

Indispensable to Aubrey/Maturin fans as the first draft of the characters. The problem with the book is that it adheres strictly to the historical facts of the wreck of the Wager, which were so unremittingly miserable as to wear out long before the end any pleasure in reading about them.

LibraryThing member Algybama

The narration hardly ever cracks - a pretty astounding thing, given how drawn-out the descriptions can be. The dialogue's formatting is really masterful, but I didn't appreciate the lazy and often unclear way O'Brian would occasionally start chapters in medias res. The plot drags 2/3rds the way

through, and the pacing falls off a bit, but generally it's an enjoyable story with a couple really exciting and funny scenes.

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LibraryThing member JBD1

One of O'Brian's early novels, which contains what seem very much like preliminary versions of Aubrey and Maturin. An utter delight to read, with O'Brian's wonderful mix of wry humor, maritime shenanigans, and well-paced story.

LibraryThing member kslade

Pretty good novel with two characters that are a lot like the later Capt. Aubrey and Dr. Maturin in the series. Survival after a shipwreck near Patagonia.

LibraryThing member podocyte

Greatly enjoyed the first half of the book. The second was more like our heroes' feelings aboard the sea-going pig, Lys, six knots was her top speed. My favorite line in the book: Paquita, the housekeeper, as nearly spherical as anything can be in this imperfect world. To learn what happened to

Captain Cheap and the mutineers who returned to London, read The Wager by David Grann.

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