Patrick O'Brian books in order
English novelist
- Lived
- 1914–2000
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 40
- Series
- 1
Patrick O'Brian published 30 novels, 1 novella, 1 short story collection, 4 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 3 other books, beginning with Master and Commander (1969). The series is Aubrey–Maturin (21 books, starting with Master and Commander).
Updated September 2026
Aubrey–Maturin books in order (21)Series page
Reading order: 1 Master and Commander (1969) · 2 Post Captain (1972) · 3 HMS Surprise (1973) · 4 The Mauritius Command (1977) · 5 Desolation Island (1978) · 6 The Fortune of War (1979) · 7 The Surgeon's Mate (1980) · 8 The Ionian Mission (1981) · 9 Treason's Harbour (1983) · 10 The Far Side of the World (1984) · … all 21 below
- 1.
Master and Commander (1969)
- 2.
Post Captain (1972)
- 3.
HMS Surprise (1973)
- 4.
The Mauritius Command (1977)
- 5.
Desolation Island (1978)
- 6.
The Fortune of War (1979)
- 7.
The Surgeon's Mate (1980)
- 8.
The Ionian Mission (1981)
- 9.
Treason's Harbour (1983)
- 10.
The Far Side of the World (1984)
- 11.
The Reverse of the Medal (1986)
- 12.
The Letter of Marque (1988)
- 13.
The Thirteen Gun Salute (1989)
- 14.
The Nutmeg of Consolation (1991)
- 15.
Clarissa Oakes (1992)
- 16.
The Wine-Dark Sea (1993)
- 17.
The Commodore (1995)
- 18.
The Yellow Admiral (1996)
- 19.
The Hundred Days (Sep 1998)
- 20.
Blue at the Mizzen (1999)
- 21.
The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (2004)
Where to start with Patrick O'Brian
Start here
Master and Commander
Patrick O'Brian's most-read book and the first of the 21 Aubrey–Maturin books.
Standalone novels in order
The Catalans (1953)
The Golden Ocean (1956)
Richard Temple (1962)
The Coming of Age (1972)
Testimonies (1993)
The Unknown Shore (1995)
Hussein (1999)
Endurance (2000)
Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels (2004)
Novellas in order
Caesar (1999)
Short story collections in order
Collected Short Stories (1994)
Non-fiction in order
A Book of Voyages (1947)
Men-of-war (1974)
Joseph Banks (1987)
Pablo Ruiz Picasso (2001)
Children's books in order
The Road to Samarcand (1976)
Other books in order
Men-of-war Life in Nelson's Navy (1974)
MASTER & COMMANDER (1996)
Aubrey/Maturin Series (2010)
Film and TV adaptations
- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)Film · from Master and Commander
About Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian, born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series. These sea novels are set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and centre on the friendship of the English naval captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen Maturin. The 20-novel series, the first of which is Master and Commander, is known for its well-researched and highly detailed portrayal of early 19th-century life, as well as its authentic and evocative language. A partially finished 21st novel in the series was published posthumously containing facing pages of handwriting and typescript.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Patrick O'Brian FAQ
- How many books has Patrick O'Brian written?
- Patrick O'Brian published 30 novels, 1 novella, 1 short story collection, 4 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Patrick O'Brian's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Aubrey–Maturin with Master and Commander. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Patrick O'Brian's last book?
- Pablo Ruiz Picasso (2001).
- What is Patrick O'Brian's most famous book?
- Master and Commander (1969) is Patrick O'Brian's most widely read book.
- Are Patrick O'Brian's books connected?
- 21 books belong to 1 series (Aubrey–Maturin); the other 19 books stand alone.
- Which Patrick O'Brian books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Master and Commander (as Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, film, 2003).
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Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.