War

The first war against Napoleon has ended and Napoleon is exiled to the Island of Elba, from which he escapes and makes a triumphant entry into Paris where he gathers supporters. For the next hundred days, Napoleon seeks to re-conquer Europe. Most of O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin books deal with the first Napoleonic wars. This book, deals with the hundred days of Napoleon's attempt at a comeback. Though war is an horrific topic, due to Aubrey's amazing talents at strategy and seamanship, much of the time he is able to defeat the enemy with minimal bloodshed. Though the idea of war is woven throughout the novel, very little of the book is actually taken up with battles. Instead of defeating a French fleet, Aubrey's mission is to keep the French from gaining a fleet to challenge the British navy. Through encouraging sabotage at shipyards, challenging vessels that declare for Napoleon...