[ O'Brian / The Mauritius Command ]
Patrick O'Brian (1914 - 2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist, biographer, poet, short-story writer, and translator, best known for his 20-volume series of scrupulously researched historical novels following the exploits of "Lucky" Jack Aubrey, a British Naval officer, and his friend and companion Dr Stephen Maturin, during the Napoleonic Wars at the turn of the 19th Century. The popularity of these novels was considerably boosted by the award-winning 2003 film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany and directed by Peter Weir, which brought O'Brian's most famous literary characters vividly to life.
The fourth novel in the series, Desolation Island (published 1977), contains a passing mention of a Newfoundland early in Chapter Seven.
Jack Aubrey, who has been made a (temporary) commodore and thus has command over a squadron of ships, is delineating to his friend (and ship's doctor) Stephen Maturin the ships in his squadron and their captains: "... you remember Narborough, Stephen?" Stephen shook his head. "Of course you do," cried Jack. "Lord Narborough, a big black man with a Newfoundland dog..."
