Aubrey and Maturin's triumphant return to England

After circumnavigating the globe via New South Wales, 'Melanesia', the South Seas, Chile and Peru, Jack and Stephen make a dangerous voyage back to England at the end of the Wine-Dark Sea, avoiding catastrophe at the hands of American Privateers and icebergs. Finally reaching England at the beginning of the Commodore, Jack finds out that his appointment to that rank will finally mean his faithful Pullings will become a post captain at last. Stephen's arrival is not as happy, with personal catastrophe seemingly just around the corner. O'Brian has really hit his stride with these two novels, I am just gripped by the plotting, the extraordinarily tender character development and O'Brian's increasing confidence to challenge and astound the reader with surprise at every turn. I must slow down, I need to savour these books more......