Book Review: "The Fortune of War"

Patrick O'Brian's sixth Aubrey-Maturin novel, The Fortune of War, finds our heroes at sea when the War of 1812 breaks out, then captured when the Constitution bests the Java and taken to Boston to await a prisoner exchange. While O'Brian's descriptions of Boston leave much to be desired, his decision to bring Maturin front and center for this installment and flesh out some of his spycraft (as well as his relationship with Diana Villiers) is to be applauded.

As usual, an absorbing read, and O'Brian's meticulous research of the battles he portrays (including the capstone fight between the Chesapeake and the Shannon) is obvious.