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Books and more to complement Far Side of the World

If Peter Weir's film Master and Commander: Far Side of the World left you wanting more, here are some suggestions to tide you over until the sequel.

• Music
  • Film music
  • More music
• Books
  • The Aubrey-Maturin novels, by Patrick O'Brian
  • Other books by Patrick O'Brian
  • Commentaries and companions
  • Historical background
  • Modern-day tall ships
  • Cape Horn
• Related movies

HMS Rose, the tall ship used in the film as HMS Surprise, is moored at the Maritime Museum of San Diego through the end of November, 2004 and is open for tours. Interestingly, she is still registered by 20th Century Fox under the name Rose, the name used in her sail training ship days.

The original film

More music

Four of the baroque selections used in the film have only a single movement available on the official soundtrack album. If you'd like to hear the full compositions, here are some options:

Here is some music that is either mentioned in the novels, or is consistent with the music that is mentioned.

Books

The Aubrey-Maturin novels, by Patrick O'Brian

More by Patrick O'Brian

Commentaries and companions

See also Bruce Trinque's list on Amazon.

Historical background

Modern-day tall ships

Cape Horn

Cape Horn, where the most dramatic sailing scenes take place, deserves its own pages. Here are a bibliography and some notes on my own doubling of Cape Horn in 2002.

Movies

The recent movies closest in spirit to Patrick O'Brian's work are the Horatio Hornblower episodes produced by the BBC, and aired in the USA on A&E. As of late 2003, 8 episodes have been produced; the first 4 were released together, then next 2, with episodes 7 and 8 due for release soon. It is possible to buy volumes 1-4, volumes 1-6, volumes 5-6, and volumes 7-8 as sets. Consider also the 1984 movie based on the mutiny on the HMS Bounty.