The Fortune of War is a historical novel written by British author Patrick O'Brian. It is the sixth book in the Aubrey-Maturin series, and is set during the War of 1812.
The Fortune of War contains lightly fictionalized accounts of the battle between HMS Java and USS Constitution, and the battle between HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake.
The Americans capture Aubrey and become suspicious of him as a former commander of HMS Leopard, due to the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair.
This book extensively explores Maturin's character while he and Aubrey languish in captivity in Boston, as he manifests his various roles: doctor, spy, and tormented lover. It continues the account of Maturin's pursuit of Diana Villiers, with whom he remains deeply in love.
Read more about The Fortune Of War: Plot Summary, Characters, Ships, Allusions/references To Actual History, Geography and Current Science, Publication Details
Famous quotes containing the word fortune:
“When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the injustice of fortune by vilifying those enjoyments which she had not given them.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)