Aubrey and Maturin, returned to the Royal Navy, sail the South Seas until shipwreck, 1812
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Ahhh, yes. Jack Aubrey returned to his Majesty's Not-so-Secret Service. Sailing with his friend Stephen, from his Majesty's Secret Service. This time we get to behold the sights and sounds of the South China Sea. Meet some dastardly Frenchmen who are vying for the affections of a certain Sultan from Pulo Prabang (as Wikipedia calls it, "...a piratical Malay state in the South China Sea". The English cannot have such a situation potentially interfering with the East India Company shipping lanes. Heave to and show some leg. Look lively, now.
The Sultan is know by many names: Flower of Courtesy, Nutmeg of Consolation, and Rose of Delight.
Stephen meets an orang-utang. Later he is mistaken for one. An insufferable "diplomat" is suffered by all. For this adventure Aubrey gets to command the Diane, the ship he cut out in our last adventure. Nobody will be commanding her from now on.
Let's just say that our old frenemies Ledward and Wray won't be bothering anyone any longer, either.
By the way, these wonderful paintings used as book cover art are enchanting. All (if I am not mistaken) by martitime artist Geoff Hunt:
http://www.hmssurprise.org/harpercollins-covers-geoff-hunt
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