The Lubber’s Hole - A Patrick O’Brian Podcast

Welcome to the Lubber's Hole - Ian & Mike get started with Master and Commander, the first in the series.  We talk about the origins of the Aubrey/Maturin books, the first encounters between Stephen and Jack, and the emerging story of James Dillon.  The first connections emerge between the books and the great Peter Weir movie, and we dodge the subject of goats, sadly. Ch 1-9

Ian & Mike give you a quick welcome to the world of the Lubber's Hole podcast, a journey through the books of Patrick O'Brian.  Preparing the way for Episode 1 - there's not a moment to lose!  

Mike and Ian review the second half of Master and Commander.  We uncover more 'Russell Crowe alerts', talk about loyalty and love afloat and ashore, and of course we cover the final action-packed chapters of the book - what does the Spanish navy have in store for the Sophie and for the rest of the British fleet? Ch 10-12

Ian and Mike dive deeper into the Aubrey / Maturin canon, looking at the opening chapters of Post Captain.  A whole cast of new female characters, financial setbacks, heartbreak and jealousy, plus of course horses and fart jokes, and a bear called Flora - they're all here. Ch 1-4

Jack and Stephen's financial and romantic affairs become increasingly complex, not to mention conflicted.  Mike and Ian talk through the emotional and practical consequences, while our special guest, educator and re-enactor Karen Millyard, covers the social side - what was really going on at the Melbury Lodge ball? Ch 5-6

Jack has a ship, Pullings is a lieutenant, but all is still not well ... a dogged and unhappy crew, a fragile friendship, financial hardship, deceptions and dalliances all threaten Jack and Stephen's happiness and safety.  As the plot tangles them more and more deeply, an unlikely candidate emerges to cut the knots of jealousy and set them free.  Who can it be?   Ch 7-9

Everything is now in play - lives, careers, relationships, fortunes, all thrown into one great gamble in Jack's expedited cutting-out mission at Chaulieu.  Jack and Stephen might get to redeem themselves and each other, but what about Sophie?  We talk over the final tense chapters of Post Captain, and (at long last) make a connection with the West Wing - who knew? Ch 11-14

To look back on the first two books with a fresh perspective, we're joined by our friend Jeremy, who read Master & Commander just to help us out; and we turn the first pages of HMS Surprise, with a trip home for Patrick O'Brian, danger for Stephen in Menorca, and a daring rescue mission by Jack and the crew.  Maybe HMS Surprise is the 'Goldilocks' book, in more than one sense ... Ch 1-3

Now cast ashore, Stephen and Jack encounter a shock, a revelation, a bolt from the blue: an auspicious ship to carry them round the world. They meet vampires, rats, albatrosses and of course a sloth - but what has Jack done to earn the friendship of the sloth? I think you know ... Ch 4-5

The Surprise, now a character in her own right, carries Jack and Stephen (and their passengers) through a life-threatening storm.  We get assistance in navigating the Southern Ocean from our special guest Tom Horn, creator of the cannonade.net mapping website.  Meanwhile, Surprise is carrying Stephen closer to Bombay and to an encounter with Diana. Ch 6