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It contains all the action and excitement which could possibly be hoped for in a historical novel, but it also displays the qualities which have put O'Brian far ahead of any of his competitors: his depiction of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war, of weapons, food, conversation and ambience, of the detail of life aboard a Nelsonic His power of characterisation is above O'Brian's portrayal of each of these is faultless and the sense of period throughout is acute.
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