Captain Jack Aubrey, a brilliant and experienced officer, has been
struck off the list of post-captains for a crime he did not commit. His
old friend Stephen Maturin, usually cast as a ship's surgeon to mask his
discreet activities on behalf of British Intelligence, has bought for
Aubrey his former ship the Surprise to command as a privateer, more
politely termed a letter of marque. Together they sail on a desperate
mission against the French, which, if successful, may redeem Aubrey from
the private hell of his disgrace.