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The Reverse of the Medal | 
 enlarge | Author: Patrick O'brian
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £2.87
You Save: £5.12 (64%)
New (18) Used (7) from £1.75
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 14143
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 286
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 0006499260
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780006499268
ASIN: 0006499260
Publication Date: May 6, 1997
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Aubrey's low point is O'Brian's high point May 11, 2008
N. Webb (Portsmouth England)
This is simply, for me, one of the best novels ever written, of any genre, & finds O'Brian at the very peak of his considerable powers. Ostensibly it is 'just' another instalment of the Aubrey/Maturin sea-faring tales & works very well on that level. However, apart from the opening sequences, the story unfolds mainly ashore & represents Captain Aubrey's most difficult challenge to date. As he has shown in previous episodes, he is never more at sea than when he is on land. Basically he is 'stitched up' by unsuspected enemies & consequently becomes embroiled in the politically biased judicial system of the time, with predictable results. If like me, you have followed Aubrey through all his previous adventures, all his various ups & downs then, like me, you will find this a very bittersweet experience as he reaches his nadir. I'll not attempt to deny that I blubbered unashamedly as the story reached it's poignant climax. It is not all doom & gloom however, the book has it's lighter moments &,as can be seen by the number of sequels, it is far from the end of the line for Aubrey. Historical novels,indeed any novels, really do not come any better than this. Enjoy !
"Lucky" Jack no longer. January 8, 2004
Mr. John M. Terry
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
The Aubrey-Maturin series reaches its emotional high-point. Like Post Captain, Reverse of the Medal takes place mostly on land but it is as far-removed as it can be from that romantic-comedy interval. We get to see a fascinating glimpse of the London underworld and the legal processes of the time and Jack Aubrey in adversity is an impressive sight. He bears his misfortune with stoic dignity and the respect in which he is held by all he has served with comes to his rescue in his blackest moment. The climax of the book is one of the most powerful and moving passages I have ever read and made me realise how much I had come to care about these characters.
Wonderful O'Brian piece about Sanguine Innocence Lost. October 21, 2000
10 out of 13 found this review helpful
The 'Reverse Of The Medal' is a splendid read. There, I've just gone and killed the review, or rather if it was a book it would be rendered moot to read it. In the same vein, anyone reading any of the later books before this will be rather at a disadvantage. The invention in this tale must be experienced first hand. Although you should read the earlier books in the series first, this is one of the few in the series where you don't acuatlly have to in order to grasp the plot. The Reverse Of The Medal is totally different to any other book of it's type, in the nautical vein. In fact it stands alone as a rather wonderful tale that I personally would put above the stodgy tales of Jane Austen. The secret to it's success, lies in the attention to detail and the human element often lauded in the series as a whole. However, in this series the tales are even better by land than sea. This book follows 'Post Captain' (An earlier title) in providing land based adventures that grab me so much that I wish O'Brian had written more tales of Maturins intelligence work on land, the five year gap between 'HMS Surprise' and 'The Mauritius Command' would have served amply. No matter because this book was perhaps the crescendo of O'Brians work. After this book, the series lost the urgency and must read quality it had until after this tale. One thing I particularly liked was Aubreys lawyer whose name is Lawrence, a thoroughly endearing character who in this tale, helps us keep faith in the law of the land. This characters conversations with Maturin are pure GOLD. And he shares my surname. (As I'm studying to be a lawyer I may also add that his views wonderfully mirror those who have taught me, and myself. He gives a wonderful perspective to the readers interpretation of the tale.) Also the portrayal of the Marshalsea Naval Prison is quite clever in portraying it rather nicely and not going over the top with misery and dirt. O'Brian had his characters in a REAL prison earlier in the series the Temple in France compared to that the Marshalsea seems like Butlins, the comparison fired my imagination. The only thing I didn't care for was, no the book could not be improved. Even those who have no interest in the series or the navy particularly SHOULD READ IT!
Onshore, but the Best of the Aubrey-Maturin series so far August 26, 1999
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I find Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series a challenge to read, albeit an excellent, well-connected long novel. I could not put down the eleventh in the series, The Reverse of the Medal, once I began it. Although most of this book occurs on land, where Captain Jack Aubrey is naive and awkward, O'Brian exploits this: the force of the plot is as strong as the earliest, more typically naval stories in the saga. The climax brought tears to my eyes, and the last chapter's denouement evoked a cheer for Maturin and his dear friend. I went right to the Web to order the next two novels.
Fascinating look at Nelson's era June 25, 1999
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Aubrey and Maturin sail again in this epic sries from Patrick O'Brian. "The Reverse of the Medal" is timeless historical fiction of the highest quality. I've read three great novels this summer, "The Triumph and the Glory", "The Hundred Days" another by O'Brian, and this earlier work. Take the time to read them as well, you won't regret it.
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