POST CAPTAIN

Captain Jack Aubrey of His Majesty's Navy has retired to the country where he becomes entangled with several beauties, but financial embarrassment puts period to his rustication, and he heads for France to escape his creditors, necessitating another escape, this time from Napoleon. So it's back to the bounding main to take French and Spanish prizes, and just as well for all concerned, since the author is as uncomfortable as the captain in the drawing room. There's plenty of action for naval aficionados and for more refined tastes there's Stephen Maturin, a somber, whimsical ship's surgeon who suffers from an unrequited passion and keeps bees in his cabin. Maturin is a charmer and Aubrey an amiable bear of little brain -- good company on a pleasant voyage for addicts of this genre.