Every now and then it comes round, like the call of the wild blue yonder or the yearning for the unknown - a fancy to take a voyage on the seas of a Patrick O'Brian book. I don't always recognise it and give in to it, more fool me, but thanfully this time I had it by the beam and she filled out the mizzen topmast staysail sweet as kiss your hand, laying us by the lee and poking someone or other in the eye.

The previous Aubrey/Maturin adventure was merely a shaking-out voyage to test the waters for the mission of The Thirteen Gun Salute. Restored to the lists, setting out on a secret mission in Aubrey's favourite ship with a hand-picked crew, the machinations of the intriguing intelligence service oblige them to switch berths. A voyage to Malay ensues, setting out to thwart the French and snatch a treaty from the jaws of defeat. There are comings and goings - an unfamiliar crew, an envoy who may turn out to be troublesome, a pair of familiar traitors and opportunities for observing some of the wonders of the natural world. History may plough on, the oceans may storm and toss or go calm, the vagaries of the service may make unreasonable demands, but O'Brian's novels have the vigour, life, discipline, voice and authority of a naval man o'war in full sail.