Aubrey-Maturin series
Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brianby Patrick O'Brian
Hacker ApprovedThe most recommended of 13 historical novels
Readers call it joyful, funny and astonishingly detailed naval fiction, with historical accuracy that people find rewarding. The most common caveat is heavy archaic and naval terminology.
Readers call it joyful, funny and astonishingly detailed naval fiction, with historical accuracy that people find rewarding. The most common caveat is heavy archaic and naval terminology.
18 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 18
- criticize it
- 0
- approval share
- 100%
Recommended in 6 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 18 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- Nobody criticizes itNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 6 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Rewarding, enriching, nearly flawless books
“It’s not easy, but it is oh so rewarding.”
Comment from 23 Aug 2026 in “To become a better writer, read as much as you can” “they enrich my life on every occasion”
Comment from 3 Aug 2026 in “Read the Novels and Forget Everything Else” “The books are borderline flawless”
Comment from 3 Aug 2026 in “Read the Novels and Forget Everything Else” Impeccable historical accuracy and detail
“It is a literary treasure trove that has impeccable historical accuracy.”
Comment from 24 Apr 2026 in “Why I Write (1946)” “O'Brian's attention to detail is astonishing, his invention never flags”
Comment from 3 Aug 2026 in “Read the Novels and Forget Everything Else” Joyful adventure, humor and erudition
“full of joy and adventure and excitement and humor and astonishing erudition”
Comment from 3 Aug 2026 in “Read the Novels and Forget Everything Else” “The early books in particular are Austen with sailing, swearing, and sex.”
Comment from 11 Dec 2025 in “Gundam is just the same as Jane Austen but happens to include giant mech suits” Re-read repeatedly over the years
“I re-read the Aubrey-Maturins every few years and find them easy”
Comment from 11 Dec 2025 in “If You Quit Social Media, Will You Read More Books?” “A truly excellent series that I'm actually currently re-reading”
Comment from 3 Aug 2026 in “Read the Novels and Forget Everything Else”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Dense archaic and naval language
“the heavy use of archaic and naval terms in the Aubrey-Maturin series”
Comment from 11 Dec 2025 in “If You Quit Social Media, Will You Read More Books?”
Other historical novels people recommend
The four most recommended other historical novels, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aubrey-Maturin seriesby Patrick O'BrianThis page | 18 | 0 | 100% | 6 | — | Approved |
| The Three Musketeersby Alexandre Dumas | 12 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | Approved |
| The MANIACby Benjamin Labatut | 12 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | Approved |
| I, Claudiusby Robert Graves | 11 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | Approved |
| Master and Commanderby Patrick O'Brian | 7 | 1 | 88% | 4 | — | — |
What people said
18 of the 20 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“It’s not easy, but it is oh so rewarding.”
“I've made my own, somewhat delightful, but also archaic side quests from O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin fiction series.”
“I read the books, and enjoyed them in the early 2000s.”
“A truly excellent series that I'm actually currently re-reading”
“his faults don't "poison" his books from within”
“they enrich my life on every occasion”
“full of joy and adventure and excitement and humor and astonishing erudition”
“O'Brian's attention to detail is astonishing, his invention never flags”
“I also recognized Jack’s incredible management skills!”
“The books are borderline flawless”
“certainly worth a read as well, especially books 3-10 or so”
“The books are also available in audiobook, read by Simon Vance.”
“It is a literary treasure trove that has impeccable historical accuracy.”
“the heavy use of archaic and naval terms in the Aubrey-Maturin series”
“I re-read the Aubrey-Maturins every few years and find them easy”
“which was incredible, even if they were probably the hardest books I've ever read”
“I binged the entire Aubrey-Maturin series during lockdown and was genuinely sad for a week when I reached the end of it.”
“The early books in particular are Austen with sailing, swearing, and sex.”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.