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Description

In January 2000, Patrick O'Brian died in the Westbury Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. Like his life, O'Brian's death was marked by secrecy and confusion, sharpening the curiosity of his many readers who for years have speculated about the man behind the beloved Aubery-Maturin series of novels.

Dean King at last unveils the story of Richard Patrick Russ, a writer and intellectual who emerged from the Second World War as Patrick O'Brian, a persona created by his imagination and refined over decades. To research this book, King crisscrossed Europe to speak to long-lost relatives, friends, and colleagues of his famously reclusive subject; now he has fashioned this wealth of information into a dramatic and compelling narrative. As King meticulously examines the events of O'Brian's life, he deepens and enriches our understanding and appreciation of O'Brian's work.

About the Author

Dean King, an authority on nautical literature and history, has written eight books, including A Sea of Words, Harbors and High Seas, and Every Man Shall Do His Duty.

Praise for Patrick O'Brian: A Life…

"[O'Brian] devotees should rejoice at this account of his life, written with appreciative balance, rich with literary insight." --Los Angeles Times

"A generous portrait by a true believer." --Scott Vaele, The New York Times Book Review

"This absorbing biography provides all the details one could hope for, and more." --Jay Parini