The Letter of Marque, (1988) is a historical novel and twelfth in the Aubrey-Maturin series written by British author Patrick O'Brian.
In The Letter of Marque, Aubrey, now a civilian, prepares the Surprise to sail as a privateer. The term "Letter of Marque" comes from the legal letters given to captains of private vessels allowing them to wage war in the name of the King against the King's enemies. While Jack often associated "privateers" with le...
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The Letter of Marque, (1988) is a historical novel and twelfth in the Aubrey-Maturin series written by British author Patrick O'Brian.
In The Letter of Marque, Aubrey, now a civilian, prepares the Surprise to sail as a privateer. The term "Letter of Marque" comes from the legal letters given to captains of private vessels allowing them to wage war in the name of the King against the King's enemies. While Jack often associated "privateers" with legalised pirates, he agrees to sail the Surprise, but always refers to the ship under the more respectable term "Letter of Marque." Jack is bitter and low-spirited about his dismissal of the Navy List, and dreads affronts and disrespectful treatment from any British Navy vessels and their officers. However, he is strongly supported by his crew - notably a group of smugglers and Sethian religious fanatics recruited at the little port of Shelmerston (fictional) in south-west England.
The downfall of the traitors Wray and Ledward in the previous...
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