originally published 11/1/1995

Literary critic Alan Jacobs considers the author Patrick O’Brian, whose work was virtually ignored until 1991, as perhaps the best historical novelist ever. O’Brian’s novels, set in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, draw readers into the physical world and experiences of the characters, but also into their moral world. Jacobs comments on O’Brian’s use of music in the series, his use of technical language about sailing, and the qualities that make O’Brian such an effective historical novelist.

This interview was originally published on Volume 17 of the Mars Hill Tapes.

13 minutes

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