Commander: The Life and Exploits of Britain's Greatest Frigate Captain - Hardcover

'Fast-paced, hugely entertaining biography ... An entertaining, swashbuckling adventure, filled to the brim with derring-do.' --Daily Telegraph

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It may be that Edward Pellew, captain of the frigate Indefatigable, was not the first inspiration for Patrick O Brian s Jack Aubrey, but Taylor s book adds another level of interest and excitement to his story, and salvages the true Pellew from the neglect of naval history. He was a difficult character but his great moment was his last command: a battle with the Barbary States and the liberation of thousands of European slaves. Taylor s thrilling book does him full justice. [Pellew] was a difficult character but his great moment was his last command: a battle with the Barbary States and the liberation of thousands of European slaves. Taylor's thrilling book does him full justice.' --The Times

'Immortalised in naval fiction as mentor to CS Forester's Hornblower and as a model for Patrick O'Brian s Jack Aubrey, Edward Pellew was one of the foremost figures of Britain's golden age of maritime supremacy ... he is skilfully conjured up in Stephen Taylor's commendable biography. Fans of Forester and O'Brian will enjoy this tale of Pellew's meteoric rise from penniless Cornish seaman to commander in chief.' --The Sunday Times

Taylor skilfully guides us through the less exciting passages of Pellew's life, helped along by a minor scandal or two, and many disagreements ... Nobody describes a naval battle better than Taylor ... [Pellew] has never been quite forgotten - his memory is said to live on in the character of Jack Aubrey, the fictional hero of Patrick O'Brian's novels, and it will certainly be revived by this fine book, which seems to me a flawless demonstration of the biographer's craft. --Jan Morris, Guardian

'It may be that Edward Pellew, captain of the frigate Indefatigable, was not the first inspiration for Patrick O Brian s Jack Aubrey, but Taylor s book adds another level of interest and excitement to his story, and salvages the true Pellew from the neglect of naval history. He was a difficult character but his great moment was his last command: a battle with the Barbary States and the liberation of thousands of European slaves. Taylor s thrilling book does him full justice.' --The Times

'A riveting story.' -- Spectator

'A moving and original work of reclamation.' --Daily Telegraph

'A riveting story.' -- Spectator

'A moving and original work of reclamation.' --Daily Telegraph

It may be that Edward Pellew, captain of the frigate Indefatigable, was not the first inspiration for Patrick O Brian s Jack Aubrey, but Taylor s book adds another level of interest and excitement to his story, and salvages the true Pellew from the neglect of naval history. He was a difficult character but his great moment was his last command: a battle with the Barbary States and the liberation of thousands of European slaves. Taylor s thrilling book does him full justice. --The Times

'A riveting story.' -- Spectator

'A moving and original work of reclamation.' --Daily Telegraph

It may be that Edward Pellew, captain of the frigate Indefatigable, was not the first inspiration for Patrick O Brian s Jack Aubrey, but Taylor s book adds another level of interest and excitement to his story, and salvages the true Pellew from the neglect of naval history. He was a difficult character but his great moment was his last command: a battle with the Barbary States and the liberation of thousands of European slaves. Taylor s thrilling book does him full justice. --The Times

Dramatic true-life naval adventure from the acclaimed maritime historian, following the exploits of the man Patrick O'Brian based Jack Aubrey on.